■ Melbourne TV-radio identity Bert Newton this week celebrates his 79th birthday. He is pictured with grandson Monty.
Photo: Facebook/Patti Newton
THE GREA
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PHONE:
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● See advert, back page

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hospital. It’s a casual 24/7 service that
pays well when busy, but also gives you a
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• Some knowledge of hospital like equipment is beneficial.
• Moderate lifting involved
• Must be able to use Smartphone confidently and have great attention to detail.

TURN TO PAGE 2

Please forward your Application along with
CV to applications@ahessential.com

Aries: (March 21- April 20)
Lucky colour:
Red
Lucky day:
Saturday
Racing numbers: 9-5-3-8
Lotto numbers:
18-24-26-21-32-33
Attention to details during this period is vital and anything you sign should be looked into by professionals.
Some problems could arise on the domestic sector but
nothing you can't handle

Taurus: (April 21- May 20)
Lucky colour:
Light blue
Lucky day:
Wednesday
Racing numbers: 2-9-6-3
Lotto numbers:
3-12-21-24-26-42
You could be more interested in having fun than doing
what you should just now. Do the important matters
first and then let yourself go and enjoy life. Some luck
with a cancer person.

Leo: (July 23- august 22)
Lucky colour:
Red
Lucky day:
Thursday
Racing numbers: 1-5-6-8
Lotto numbers:
7-11-12-30-34-43
Surprising period in which nothing seems to work the
way you expected it to. Not a time to plan anything long
lasting as situations change rapidly. Some luck with a
person from your past.
Virgo: (august 23- September 23)
Lucky colour:
Black
Lucky day:
Tuesday
Racing numbers: 2-4-6-9
Lotto numbers: 9-14-18-27-36-45
Money matters are very much in the forefront during this
period. Decisions about investments or purchases to be
made. In the domestic sector, you could do well with
some tact and understanding.

● Emerald Hill Orphanage. Circa 1860-1879

If your local newsagent does not
curr
ently sstt ock the Melbourne Observ
er
currently
Observer
er,,
why not place a weekly order with them,
by using their ‘putaway’ service.
Newsagents should contact All Day
Distribution Pty Ltd, 169 Burwood Road,
Hawthorn, Vic 3122. Phone: (03) 9482
1145.

Libra: (September 24- October 23)
Lucky colour:
Silver
Lucky day:
Monday
Racing numbers: 1-6-7-9
Lotto numbers:
5-14-23-27-33-44
Do not let yourself be fooled by one lucky strike. Most
of your money will have to be earned and worked for,
also silly shopping is out during this period or something you have planned will not eventuate.
Scorpio: (October 24- November 22)
Lucky colour:
White
Lucky day:
Friday
Racing numbers: 6-5-3-2
Lotto numbers: 5-7-11-21-26-31
After a feeling of disappointment, you could get a nice
surprise that will restore your faith in human kind. Relationship matters could be decided on and permanent
arrangements made very soon.

Across The World

Sagittarius: (November 23- December 20)
Lucky colour:
Light green
Lucky day:
Sunday
Racing numbers: 1-3-2-4
Lotto numbers:
2-16-18-19-26-28
For the young at heart and the unattached this could be a
very exciting time, busy social life and many offers
around. Financial matters might not work as well but
little progress is evident.

Back Copies
Back Copies - Archives
w w w.MelbourneObserv
e rr.. c om.au
.MelbourneObserve
Back copies for 1969-89, 2002-15 may be
inspected by appointment at the State
Library of Victoria. 328 Swanston St,
Melbourne.

Gemini: (may 21- June 21)
Lucky colour:
Green
Lucky day:
Saturday
Racing numbers: 3-5-4-2
Lotto numbers:
5-9-17-22-28-42
You could be in need of some kind of advice and when
you get it make sure you use it wisely. Legal and real
estate matters should be handled with care and by experts. Romance should be improving.
Cancer: (June 22- July 22)
Lucky colour:
Red
Lucky day:
Monday
Racing numbers: 2-7-8-9
Lotto numbers: 2-13-16-27-32-36
If you have been showing the best side of you to your
superiors now could be the time when you can benefit
from it. Something you did well in the past will bring
rewards now.

Capricorn: (December 21- January 19)
Lucky colour:
Brown
Lucky day:
Tuesday
Racing numbers: 6-7-8-3
Lotto numbers:
4-13-22-31-35-39
If you cannot do the job yourself make sure the instructions to others are clear enough, as mistakes are possible
during this period. There is a possibility of some changes
in your work situation.
Aquarius: (January 20- February 19)
Lucky colour:
Fawn
Lucky day:
Wednesday
Racing numbers: 1-5-6-8
Lotto numbers:
15-23-31-33-35-44
Some changes are needed but you must use tact in introducing them to other members of the household. A very
lucky period coming up and travel is very much on the
agenda for you.

Pisces: (February 20- march 20)
Lucky colour:
Lemon
Lucky day:
Monday
Racing numbers: 1-5-6-7
Lotto numbers:
2-16-18-23-29-44
Long distance planning should be done very soon as the
time will come when your plans are needed. Changes
will happen but they should not upset you too much. Be
flexible in your time with loved ones.

■ This Victorian premiere of Lally Katz’s
stage play of Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s
classic gothic tale, Frankenstein, is staged on
the bicentennial eve of the original publication,
January 1, 1818.
Katz’s shrewdly exploits the current day revival of gothic horror in this condensed, contemporary version of the story.
Frankenstein’s creation, known only as The
Creature, deviates from Shelley’s Monster being portrayed as a woman by Chantelle
Jamieson.
The Creature is an innocent who yearns for
a normal life unencumbered by the fears that
overwhelm her psychologically and physically.
Rejected by her creator and father, The Creature is fraught with issues of body image, selfidentity and the search for acceptance and love.
Chantelle gives a moving performance of a
vulnerable modern-day teenager including a
touching scene where she imitates bird call in
the forest musing on an avian connection.
Victor Frankenstein, played Michael
McStay, is depicted as the disturbed creator who,
after his creation is brought to life, immediately
rejects her as being ugly, dismissing any fatherdaughter recognition.
The duality of the creator/rejector character
is cleverly enhanced by Michael’s gothic romantic costume, dark eye make-up and skilful
acting and movement on stage.
The two main characters are craftily supported by an onstage assistant stage manager
wearing a second skin, head to toe, grey body
suit melding him into the set.
Director Phil Rouse returns to Theatre Works
with this dark and powerful production exploring the central themes of parenting, body image, desire for love, guilt and gender issues.
The impact of this production is boosted by
accompanying 80s pop culture references and
ballads, dramatic lighting, sound and smoke haze
effects.
Lally and Phil have admirably brought
Shelley’s iconic story onto today’s stage with
refreshed relevance.
Performance dates: July 20-29
Venue: Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St
Kilda
Running time: 65 minutes
Bookings: 9534 3388
Office: 9534 4879
admin@theatreworks.org.au
- Review by Sherryn Danaher

■ Actor and 96.5 Inner FM broadvaster David
Small has died suddenly at age 80.
Melbourne Observer solumnist Kevin Trask
said: “It is with deep regret that we announce
the sudden passing of one our valued presenters
and friends David Small.
“David has been with 96.5 Inner FM since
the beginning and presented the first Local Theatre program when we began official transmission in 1990.
“For many years David presented Morning
Magazine on a Thursday morning.
“His popular Sunday morning programs
Small Talk and Worship on the Wireless had a
wonderful following.
“Our sympathy is extended to his daughters
and all the family. This is a great loss to our
radio station,” Kevin Trask said.
Born in England in 1938, a large slice of his
life has been as an actor and director in nonprofessional theatre.
● Turn To Page 11

■ Two teens had their cars impounded
in Mulgrave at the weekend after being
caught driving at 90kmh over the speed
limit.
Police from Nunawading Highway Patrol clocked an Audi sedan travelling at
170kmh in an 80kmh zone on Wellington
Rd.
Shortly after they saw the vehicle get
overtaken by a Mitsubishi Lancer, also
recorded as travelling at 170kmh.
The two vehicles were intercepted and
Police discovered the drivers, an 18-yearold Rowville man and an 18-year-old
Mulgrave man, were mates and en route
to a friend’s place after visiting a local
doughnut shop.
Both vehicles were impounded for 30
days and will cost the drivers $925 and
$879 respectively to recover them.
They will also be charged on summons
with an array of traffic offences including
conduct endangering life.

.173 alleged

■ A 21-year-old man has immediately
lost his licence following an incident in
Maribyrnong.
Footscray Police intercepted his vehicle on Raleigh Rd and the P2 licence
holder told police he’d been with friends
at a birthday party at a nearby licenced
premises. Four of those friends were in
the back seat of his vehicle, with one lying across the other three. None of the
four were wearing seatbelts at the time.
The Ascot Vale man also returned a
positive preliminary breath test before recording a reading of 0.173 per cent BAC
on an evidentiary breath test.
As a provisionary licence holder, he is
required to have a zero blood alcohol content and also exceeded the number of peer
passengers he is eligible to carry.

Mike McColl Jones

Top 5

The man immediately had his licence
suspended and will be charged on summons with an array of traffic offences.

THE T
OP 5
TOP
THINGS WE SHOULD
NEVER EVER DO
5. Go swimming with Mick Fanning.
4. Stand between Christine Nixon and Jeff Kennett.
3. Ask Captain Hook to do up your zipper.
2. Look at a naked Greg Norman.
1. Play golf with O.J. Simpson - he has a nasty slice.

Page 10 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Melbourne

Observer

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

West Hollywood

You meet the nicest people in the Village
■ Hi everyone, from my suite at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and
Suites comes this week's news.

Places to dine out

Meeting Dr Kildare
■ If you lived in or are just visiting West Hollywood you might
run into Richard Chamberlain (Dr Kildare) on a daily basis as
he goes for his walk around the beautiful tree lined streets of the
village.
George Richard Chamberlain is an American stage and screen
actor and singer, who became a teen idol in the title role of the
television show Dr. Kildare from1961 to1966.
Since then, he has appeared in several mini-series such as
Shogun (1980) and The Thorn Birds (1983), and many successful films, and he has performed classical stage roles and worked
in musical theatre.

Abbey Stone’s release
■ Melbourne singer-songwriter Abbey Stone is back. Her
star is on the rise. Slated for supports to some of the biggest
names in show business, her music is reaching as far as Hollywood.
Three years after releasing and touring with her debut EP
Doorways, Abbey Stone is back with her new release Complete.
Reflecting upon the themes of Complete, Stone says that
this record is "less about someone else, and mostly about me.
Coming off the back of Doorways, I wanted to write a body of
work that reflected my personal and musical growth since I
released that EP."
Working out of a home studio in Point Cook, which was set
up for the sole purpose of creating this EP (later named Still
Here Studios, an homage to her debut).
“We spent hours writing, producing and eventually engineering what would later become Complete.
"I have worked in studios before but never this hands on. I
wanted to learn about the trivial things that go into creating a
record that you might not necessarily even think about as a
listener."
Complete focuses on the ideals of self-love, confidence and
closure; something that Stone describes as "the perfect follow
up to Doorways, because in that EP, I was writing about my
longing for someone else, and now I am saying, "well, it wasn't
meant to be and I am so much better for it."
Complete was released last month.

$54.5 million mansion
■ Jay Z, Beyonce and their three kids are thought to be renting
the huge estate for a jaw-dropping $400,000 a month since the
superstar gave birth on June 12.
Known as La Villa Contenta, or the happy house, the clan are
thought to be settling in just fine and with the main mansion
boasting 14 bathrooms, 10 bedrooms and a 25ft infinity pool there is plenty of room to potter around.
It is thought the family and their huge entourage are renting
the estate until the end of August as their other property in West
Hollywood is renovated for the twins, believed to be a boy and
girl.
The new babies spent just over a week at the hospital before
being allowed to leave.
For a celebrity, La Villa Contenta is worth every cent of its
cool $54.5m price tag, which includes a 'natatorium' or pool house
“inspired by grand European follies”, a large office building and
a staff housing complex.
Relaxing walks can be partaken in the 6.3 acres of grounds
including a rose garden with more than 1000 flower bushes and
a landscaped desert area.

● Richard Chamberlain and Alan Johnson

GavinWood

From my Suite at the
Ramada Plaza Complex
on Santa Monica Blvd

Visit Sunset Strip
■ If you are considering a move to Los Angeles or just coming
over for a holiday on the Sunset Strip then I have got a special
deal for you.
We would love to see you at the Ramada Plaza Hotel and
Suites, 8585 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood.
I have secured a terrific holiday deal for readers of the
Melbourne Observer.
Please mention 'Melbourne Observer' when you book and you
will receive the 'Special Rate of the Day'.
Please contact: Joanna at info@ramadaweho.com
Happy Holidays,
Gavin Wood

● Abbey Stone

www.gavinwood.us

Kitchen 23
Mix and mingle on the outdoor patio. One of the most desirable places to be seen in the WeHo LGBTQ scene (though,
obviously, hetero friendly). Offers upscale comfort food, delicious drinks and a cool vibe, all at very reasonable prices.
Alma at The Standard - West Hollywood.
You'll love these imaginative, SoCal dishes centered on a
singular sensation or feeling and focused on amazing textures
and presentation. Prepare your senses for overload.
Tower Bar at Sunset Tower Hotel - West Hollywood.
Cosy up in this elegant, highbrow haven with sweeping vistas
of the city. Splurge for a fancy night out (or in, if you're a hotel
guest!) with a delicious meal influenced by northern Italian
cuisine and French bistros, topped with California coastal notes.
Sunset Strip.
A stretch of glitz and glamour that connects Hollywood and
Beverly Hills, the portion of Sunset Boulevard known as the
Sunset Strip is today part of West Hollywood.
For much of its early life the strip was an in-between landscape that welcomed the nightclubs, gambling houses and juke
joints that could not survive the streets of more vigilantly patrolled Los Angeles.
Just a mile and a half in length, the Sunset Strip is bigger
than life, known for its enormous billboards, its star-making
and star-studded clubs and its choice boutiques.
To the north of the Strip are neighbourhoods that define the
Hollywood lifestyle, from tidy bungalows and low-slung ranchstyle homes to magnificent traditional and contemporary estates. Narrow, winding streets rise up glens and canyons to
evermore-impressive views over the sparkling lights of the
Los Angeles basin below.
The Strip drew an entertainment crowd from the earliest
days of Hollywood Studios when casinos and back room booze
offered respite from stricter city regulations.
Glamorous nightclubs - Ciro's, the Mocambo and the
Trocadero were the places to see and be seen.
The Pacific Electric Railroad's Balloon Route Trolley travelled from Downtown L.A. through Hollywood to the beach
and back. A pair of trolley cars plied the hilly dirt roadway of
Laurel Canyon. Among the tourists were prospective land
buyers. New restaurants and bars, clubs and boutiques crowded
together along the covered boulevard, rising and falling and
rising again in popularity with each trend in music, fashion and
contemporary culture.
The Strip found its way into songs and movies, television,
books and newspapers.
In 1984 when West Hollywood was incorporated as a city,
The Strip, especially its western end became home to more
hotels and office buildings. Even today, somewhat more dignified, the Strip is still a visual treat with billboards, neon and
picturesque people clamouring for attention and sensational
food, music and fashion rewarding visitors from around the
world. It's just waiting for you to come and experience the
Strip.

WeHo, foodie heaven
Gracefully pig out at your choice of hundreds of restaurants
and eateries in West Hollywood (WeHo).
Foodies and gourmands book WeHo stays for seamless
restaurant hopping (and, obviously, all the other attractions that
make WeHo a dream vacation).
Some of the best food is right in your hotel.
Andaz - West Hollywood.
Expect the unexpected. Dine on farm-to-table, Southern
California-inspired cuisine while basking in the lights of the
glammed-up Sunset Strip.
Surround yourself with millennial rock-n-rollers, music industry insiders and tatted-up hipsters hankering for a hearty,
market-fresh meal.
Boxwood at The London - West Hollywood.
Indulge at Boxwood to taste an innovative spin on New
American food. Served in the classy Sitting Room or the luscious Rooftop West lounge, food comes with awesome views.
Mardi Restaurant at Palihouse - West Hollywood.
Chef Kris Tominaga is bringing a family-style shared plates
menu with bold European flavours to Mardi Restaurant at
Palihouse.
Dine on big plates of roasted chicken, lamb ribs and
butterflied fish while enjoying the summer weather in the cozy
patio.
Petit Ermitage - West Hollywood.
Feel the magic and romance in a nooked away table or
under the starry So-Cal sky. Relish unique fare that's a blend of
California rustic merged with Italian, Japanese and Egyptian influences. While the cheese and charcuterie plating is a
top menu item, the Gypsy Breakfast is worth the wake-up
call.

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Vale David Small
● From Page 9
David came on board soon after 96.5 Inner FM first went to air. He was asked by
Kevin Trask to join a panel of local theatre
people in presenting local theatre on behalf
of Heidelberg Theatre Co.
He was instantly hooked on radio and was
soon sharing other programs and covering for
other presenters when necessary.
Ron Lopes brought him in on his breakfast programs as news reader, and later included news and biogs on Saturday Express.
He since produced and presented a variety of programs including Sunday Breakfast
in Bed with Daviid Small, This Is The Week
That Was and Weekend Magazine.
His popular Small Talk program was on
air since 1996.
In 2001, as Rev Tom Douglas lay terminally ill, David took over his weekly program
The Life Changing Hour, which became
styled as Worship On The Wireless.
Elected to the Management Committee,
David served as Treasurer for several years
during the 1990s, and produced a series of
Saturday afternoon magazine-type programs.
As an actor, David faced his first audience at the age of four and, like many thus
smitten, was never really the same again.
Retired from leading roles, he was a veteran of some 130 dramatic, comedy and
musical productions spanning more than 70
years and was the recipient of many prestigious acting awards, including the inaugural
VDL Gold Award (Drama) in its inaugural
year (1997) and again in 2007.
Among the occasional musical theatre
roles he has played over the years are those
of all three senior male leads in My Fair Lady,
(Higgins, Pickering and Doolittle) – as yet
unchallenged as a world record.
Screen credits include a guest appearance
in ABC TVs MDA and a variety of educational and training films and community documentaries.
Directing credits, include Easter productions for Moomba (1967) and theAdelaide
Festival of the Arts (1969).
In 1987 he brokered and co-directed the
world first full length, non-professional production of the Royal Shakespeare Company
commissioned Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby which had 34 performances in
Australia and New Zealand.
For Easter 2006 he directed and narrated
his fourth consecutive Annual Melbourne
Passion Play, performed in Doncaster's
Ruffey Lake Park.
David was invited to join the judging panel
for the 2009 VDL Annual Awards and continued in the position for four years, and later
recruited for more of the same.
David had three daughters and five grandchildren. He lost Joan, his wife of 46 years,
to cancer in 2010.
■ John McGourty, who currently heads the
News Corp Editorial Network, has been
appointed Publisher, Commercial Operations for NewsLocal. He will be responsible
for driving the editorial transformation of
News Corp Australia's community publications while managing the commercial and
operational areas of the NewsLocal business.

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - Page 11
Melbourne

Observer

Going ‘Incognito’
■ The human mind is
a majestically powerful yet fragile instrument.
We shape our reality, delude ourselves,
succumb to neurological conditions and attempt to make sense
of the world through
the facility of this organ.
Nick Payne explores this capacity of
the mind in his play,
Incognito.
The audience follows four actors (Ben
Prendergast, Kate
Cole, Jing-Xuan
Chan, Paul Ashcroft)
who move between
interconnected scenarios that range over
an extended period of
time.
The challenge this
poses for the audience
and cast is testament
to the mind’s ability to
transition and hold all
the story strands simultaneously.
It is not onerous. It
simply requires concentration.
The actors almost
instantly change scenarios and character.
Far from being disconcerting, their shift
in tone or stance is
enough to take the
au This is acting of
exceptional note.
Variations in lighting
could well have assisted this more to

● Ben Prendergast and Kate Cole in Incognito.
Photo: Teresa Noble
identify time and place ience is never bored.
Ella Caldwell and
but was, ultimately not
Ostensibly, the ap- Brett Cousins have
necessary.
propriation
of kept the direction
The stage was rela- Einstein’s brain is the simple and immediate
tively bare but for a deceit that drives the on Red Stitch’s small
grand piano and a net- play; what compelled stage allowing the exwork, a neural net of the pathologist, how ceptional writing of the
cords extending into unremarkable was the script and the actors’
the audience with actual brain, how interpretation to do the
small lights for syn- memory can be lost, work.
apses.
how driven we can be
Again, another Red
Again, it is the act- by desire, how suscep- Stitch production
ing that holds us over tible we are to love worth seeing.
the one hour and 35- and\ how our indepenUntil August 13.
minute duration of the dent lives can inter- Review by David
performance. The au- sect.
McLean

Nightdance at Arts House
● Nightdance by Melanie Lane. Photo: Jody Hutchinson
■ Two premiere dance shows are coming to
Pile of Bones examines love, suppression,
Arts House, North Melbourne in August.
mutation and the uprising of inner demons work
The first is the Stephanie Lake Company’s is combined with four remarkable dancers
production of Pile of Bones from August 15 – (Marlo Benjamin, Samantha Hines, Harrison
Ritchie-Jones and Jack Ziesing), and an origi19.
nal composition by Robin Fox.
The second production is Nightdance , choreographed by Melanie Lane, from August 24 –
27.
Australia and Berlin-based choreographer
and performer Melanie Lane coaxes us off the
couch and into the club in Nightdance, a new
work that investigates the physical experience
of the nightclub and its seductive promise of
transformation, primal temptation and sublime
release.
Transgressing the realms of traditional dance
forms, Lane and her co-performers (Lilian
Steiner and Gregory Lorenzutti) slide between
exotic dance, techno, burlesque and pop as they
navigate sound, space and light, and the social,
sensual and cerebral offerings-up for consumption after dark.
Times: 7.30pm Thu – Fri, 2pm and 7.30pm
Sat, 3pm Sun
Address: Arts House, 521 Queensberry St,
North Melbourne
Tickets: $25 – $35
Bookings: artshouse.com.au or 9322 3720
- Cheryl Threadgold

Melbourne Observations

with Matt Bissett-Johnson

Showbiz News

Melbourne Arts
Kennedy Prize

■ Kennedy Art Prize co-ordinator, Mark
Kennedy, is urging the submission of 2017
entries immediately online by the August 18
deadline to www.kenedyprize.com.au
The 2016 Kennedy Art Prize was won by
artist Deidre But-Hussaim from South Australia with a work entitled The Ineffable.
Offered by the Kennedy Arts Foundation,
open to all Australian artists, entries must be
painted in any medium and must embody,
comment on or celebrate beauty.
Emerging artists are especially encouraged to enter the prize which is designed to
showcase previously un-exhibited artists
alongside established Australian luminaries.
The winning artist will receive the 4th
Kennedy Prize of $25,000. Their artwork will
be acquired by the Kennedy Arts Foundation.
The prize money is not the only benefit to
entering the Kennedy Prize. The prize exposes artwork to new audiences especially
for emerging artists.
This year the Kennedy Arts Foundation
is also awarding the Royal South Australian
Society of Arts Portrait Prize of $10,000 which
forms part of SALA.
The Adelaide-based exhibition of the
Kennedy Prize finalists for 2017 will run from
Friday September 15 to Saturday September
23 (closed Sunday September 17) at Fisher
Jeffries, 1/19 Gouger St. Adelaide.
The Foundation's Choice, comprising of
Foundation members' shortlisted selectio,n
is part of the main exhibit.
A Peoples Choice Award will be awarded
to the public’s preferred entrant.
All entries except the Prize Winner and
Foundation Choice selections are eligible for
the Peoples Choice Award.
Voting is available at the exhibition up to
and including Thursday September 21 and
will be announced at 6pm Friday September
22 at the exhibition.
All exhibited artworks, except the prize
winner, will be available for sale at the exhibition.
- Peter Kemp

Three Monks

■ China National Theatre for Children will
present Three Monks at Arts Centre
Melbourne, Fairfax Studio for two performances on Saturday, September 2.
Adapted from an ancient Chinese legend,
this beautiful, wordless production integrates
traditional Chinese opera, martial arts and
classic elements of Chinese culture in an exploration of philosophy of unity, cooperation
and the harmony between man and nature.
On top of the mountain, in a small temple,
live an old monk master and his three students.
They live together in peace, but things
haven’t always been so easy.
As each of the monks reflect on how they
came together, they will take the audience on
a heart-warming journey of laughter, anger
and everything in between.
Founded in 1956 and based in Beijing,
China National Theatre for Children is the
only national children's art troupe directly subordinated to the Ministry of Culture of the
People's Republic of China.
In the past 60 years, China National Theatre for Children has produced and staged a
great number of exquisite works, from ancient to modern, in China and abroad.
China National Theatre for Children says
of the production and the upcoming
Melbourne season, “We created this show in
2014 and since then it has travelled to 14 countries and been warmly received by audiences.
“This show presents the spirit of Chinese
traditional culture and emphasises to children
the meaning and importance of cooperationa universal theme that has resonated around
the world.
“This will be the first time the show has
been presented in Australia and we are thrilled
to be bringing this production to Arts Centre
Melbourne.”
This program is supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia China Council.
- Cheryl Threadgold

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Page 12 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Local History

Murder at the Mountain Rush
■ The Argus newspaper, 155 years
ago (May 30, 1862), reported on the
inquest on a body discovered at the
Mountain Rush, as the Kinglake
district was then known:
On Tuesday the district coroner
held an inquest on the body of
Edmund Cuckson, at Eltham, when
the following evidence was taken :John Haynes, a miner at Smith's
Gully, Caledonian Diggings, had
known deceased for seven or eight
years.
On Saturday morning last, the 24th
last, started at about ten o'clock with
a pack-horse from Smith's Gully to
go to the Mountain Rush.
When about seven miles from
Smith's Gully, near an old hut,
witness's mare shied, and witness
then saw the body of a man lying a
little off the road, about ten or twelve
yards from the old hut, close to a
waterhole.
Did not go up nearer to the body
than ten yards. Could see the face of
the man, but did not identify the deceased at the time.
Was satisfied that the man was
dead, as there were flies about the
face, and because of the whiteness
of the face. Did not touch the body at
all. Then went to catch the mare.
Caught her, and went on the journey. Met Mr Albert Nash about a
mile further on, with Mr Herman
Steinman, Mr Passarius, and another person, all walking.
Asked them whether they had
seen any one. They said they had
met two persons, with swags, on the
Mountain Rush, near Mr. Hirt's
store.
Told them there was a body lying
on the road by the hill. They then
went on in the direction of the body,
and witness continued on to the
Mountain Rush.
The day before witness saw the
body of the deceased, witness had
left the Mountain Rush about 4 pm.
Went on horseback from the Mountain Rush to Smith's Gully, and
reached his own place about seven
o'clock.
The old hut near which the body
was found was about three miles
from the first creek of the Mountain
Rush, and about seven miles from
witness's hut.
Saw only one person on the journey home; that was a man sitting on
a swag close to the hut where the
body was afterwards found.
The man had made a sort of
miami, and was boiling his billy at a
fire he had made.
On coming up to him, he said
"Good evening mate," and witness
answered "Good evening." The man
then asked whether that was the road
to the diggings, pointing to the road
witness had come.
He also asked whether it was a
main cart track for Whittlesea. Told
him it was not, but that there was a
road from Second Creek to
Whittlesea.
He then asked how far some village was off the Whittlesea-road.
Witness told him he had heard of the
place.
Then, pointing to the track witness was following the man asked
«where that led to? After being told,
he said, " You are going there tonight, then ?"
Answered yes; and that witness
went up every day with stores. The
man said he had come through
Queenstown, and was too late to
make the Mountain Rush that night.

● A £100 reward was offered in the Victoria Government Gazette. June 1862.
While talking, witness got off his with the man, and did not take any found was situated between the
horse and took a sack from behind particular notice of how he was Queenstown and Smith's Gully
the saddle to throw across his knees, dressed.
roads, and very near where they met.
Believed he could rccognise him
and then refastenod the other bugs.
After leaving the man, did not
In doing this, witness stood on the by his voice and features, but did not meet anybody else on the road home,
off-side of the horse with his back to take any particular notice of him, Went to Queenstown on Saturday
the man; then got on the mare and beyond that he seemed to be a dig- afternoon in company with the
ger.
wished him good night.
baker's man, and passed near the
He could easily have robbed wit- hut.
Had got about a mile on the road
ness if he liked, because witness's
home after leaving the man,
Both went up to the body, and witThen witness heard the report of back was towards him, on getting ness then recognized the deceased.
fire-arms coming from the direction from tho horse.
The body was in the same position
The hut where deceased was as witness had left it.
he had left, Had not seen any gun

Excitement at the Caledonia Diggings
■ The Kilmore Free Press spoke of the Caledonia
Diggings, in its issue of May 29, 1883:
“Many years ago the old Mountain rush, or
Caledonia diggings, ceated some excitement, and
some rich alluvial gold was there obtained.
“After a spurt the district, including what is now
known as Queenstown, Panton Hill, &c., almost became deserted, although there were many who clung
to the place, thoroughly believing in its highly auriferous nature.
“This belief we feel convinced, from recent development, has beenfully justified. Several quartz claims
have been tried from time to time, occasionally with
success, but generally with indifferent results, mainly
because no proper system of mining ,seems to have
been pursued.
“The prospecting on Reedy Creek up to a very recent date we looked upon as nothing better than rooting, but the old Caledonia diggings seems to have been
scratchel over more lightly, a depth of one hundred
feet being rarely attained whilst a depth of about fifty
feet is the rule.

“The greatest novice in quartz mining knows that
mere shallow scratching is no test of quartz veins, indeed in many cases lodes which are very poor on the
surface beeome rich at a depth of a couple of hundred
feet. Where such rich alluvial deposits were obtained
in the district named it is but reasonable to expect that
gold-bearing reefs exist; indeed the country for miles,
from Kangaroo ground to Kinglake has on the face of
it all the indications of being auriferous.
“We had a run through the district named a few
days ago, and, whilst many places give tokens of decay noticeable on most deserted diggings there are yet
to be seen many cleanly homesteads with their compact front gardens, affording strong evidence of their
owners intention to remain in the locality and look forward to better times.
“At Kinglake what appears an excellent reef has
been struck. It is on the selected land of Mr McMahon,
with whom the new party called the Band of Hope
Company has mads favorable terms. The reef is an
outcrop on the surface, averages a foot in thickness to
the depth tested already-about 410 feet-and is literally
studded with gold.”

Did not seo the deceased on the
Mountain Rush on Friday last.
Charles Jesse, senior constable,
stationed at Queenstown, heard of
the body being found very late, on
Saturday night. Early the next day
procecded to the spot. Found deceased lying on his back, with one
arm stretched out, and the right arm
thrown above tho head.
The clothes were gathered up towards his arm-pits, and the tail of the
coat was under his head, as though
he had been dragged by the heels.
The shirt and undershirt were saturated with blood, partially washed out,
apparently by the rain,
Perceived a small hole in the neck
of deceased, apparently a bullet
wound. There were slight grazes of
the skin on the back.
Found a hole through the waistcoat and Crimean shirt, corresponding with the opening; in the neck of
deceased..
There was no mark o£ powdersingeing round, the opening through
the shirts.
Found three penny-pieces and the
pencil and knife (produced) near the
body, and between it and the fire
found the pipe and pencil (produced).
Near the body found the portion
of The Weekly Argus (produced),
dated l6th May, 1862, with a piece
torn out of the corner. It is stained
with red marks,
Albert Nash, a miner living on the
Caledonia Diggings, corroborated
Haynes's testimony as to meeting on
the Saturday.
Witness went on and found the
body, with blood on the neck near
the wound. Recognised deceased,
but neither of the party touched the
clothes, but left everything as it was.
Noticed that the body had been
dragged about eight or ten yards from
off the track.
Saw a pool of blood where witness supposed deceased fell, and
near the blood found the pocket-book
(produced).
Went to Queenstown Police-station and gave information. Did not
meet any person on the way to
Queenstown.
Mr. P. T. W. Ford, surgeon, described the appearance of the body
and the nature of the injury. The
cause of death was a gun-shot
wound, lacerating the subclavian artery and the lungs, finally injuring the
spinal cord. The deceased could not
have inflicted the wound himself.
Mr. Charles Hirt, storekeeper on
the Mountain Rush, knew deceased, and last saw him alive at
about four o'clock on Friday afternoon, the 23rd inst.
He came on horseback to
witness's store, spoke for a minute
or two without alighting, and then
went round the corner in the direction of Queenstown, saying he was
going home.
Witness asked him which track
he was going by, and he said by the
old hut,
Did not recollect seeing any
stranger on horseback that day on the
diggings. Deceased was quite sober.
He had a whip, and a poncho was
rolled up in front of his saddle.
The jury returned the following
verdict: "That on the 24th May, 1862,
on the Mountain Rush-road,
Evelyn, Edmund Cuckson was
found dead, having; died from internal injuries received from a leaden
bullet," and the jury find " a verdict
of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown."

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Melbourne

Observer

Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - Page 13

Travellers’ Good Buys

with
David
Ellis

It’s all about ‘just dreamin’ at sea’
David Ellis is travelling, and this
week fellow travel writer, Roderick
Eime takes over his reins.
If good things come in small packages, then when it comes to luxury
cruising, SeaDream Yacht Club
knows exactly what it’s all about.
Launched just a couple of weeks
before the calamitous events of 9/11,
its founder, Norwegian-born entrepreneur Atle Brynestad, thought he was
doomed. But against all predictions,
not only did SeaDream Yacht Club
survive, it flourished.
I’ve had my eye on these ships
(whoops, ‘yachts’) for years and when
their ground-breaking Asian itineraries were announced last year, I
pounced.
It was a calculated risk for the
regular Mediterranean- and Caribbean-operating line, whose growing
legion of repeat guests were asking
for new playgrounds to explore. Long
time onboard Club Director, Richard
Jones, now Thailand-based Business
Development Director Asia, joined the
Asia-push, overseeing the 13 first-time
itineraries that included ports as distant as Yangon, Singapore, Hong
Kong, Phuket, Langkawi, Bali,
Bangkok and Cairns.
Constantly lauded by the cruise
industry’s independent arbiter, the
Berlitz Guide, SeaDream has consistency ranked at or near the top of its
tables for ‘Boutique Ships’ category -

Taste of Spain in this Aussie drop
■ When Spanish winemaker
Freixenet decided to look seriously at
the Australian market and invested in
the purchase of a mixed fruit farm on
Victoria’s Murray River, it wasted no
time in using the vineyards there to
put out a couple of 2012 sparkling
wines under its already internationally-recognised Azahara label.
Both were an instant success, and
Freixenet has now followed-up with a
non-fizz Azahara Pinot Grigio and
also a Shiraz, with winemaker Dr Phil
Spillman delighted at their reflection
of the character of the Victorian
property’s orange groves (Azahara in
fact is Spanish for orange blossom,)
together with the avocado and mango
plantations that are criss-crossed by
the vineyard blocks.
“We’re serious about having a good
go at making something really special here,” a proud Dr Spillman says.
“Wines in a style befitting the Spanish dining and entertaining experience,
whilst still staying true to the qualities
naturally expressed by the Australian
farm.”
The 2013 Azahara Pinot Grigio has
certainly reflected that aim, with a
wonderful palate of crunchy apples,
fresh lemon and spiced pears, and a
creamy mouth feel. Add some nice
acidity and at $15 this makes a marvellous drop with Mediterranean-style
salads, and seafoods like salt ‘n pepper squid or barbecued white fish fil-

One to note
■ Another rewarding vino from
Victoria is a 2010 Shiraz from handharvested, low-cropped fruit off
Toolangi Vineyard’s Dixon’s Creek
in the Yarra Valley.
The nutmeg, violets and varietal
Shiraz peppery-spice aromas, highlighted from the inclusion of twenty
per cent whole bunches in the ferment, are reflected nicely on the
palate with complimentary finegrain tannins and a light acidity.
With just 1,400 cases made, and
at $20 a bottle, this is a quite lovely
medium-bodied drop that goes well
with rare eye fillet of beef, roast
duck – or our favourite with this
style of Shiraz, a freely herbsprinkled roast leg of lamb.

Pictured
■ Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired
seafoods with this Aussie drop’s
taste of Spain.
■ A favourite with this style of
Shiraz is a freely herb-sprinkled
roast leg of lamb.

– and against some pretty stiff competition.
Chatting to repeat ‘SeaDreamers,’
many of whom count days aboard in
the hundreds, they say it keeps coming back to service. Being treated like
royalty with your every need predicted, but without being fawned-over
or stifled. Our sommelier, Frank, a
lively Hungarian with ten years with
the company, would address we Australians cheerfully with ‘How ya going mayte?” then proceed to elaborate on the salubrious wine list for the
evening’s fine dining menu in the
main Deck 2 restaurant.
But dining is not limited to Deck 2,
and in the balmy evenings a pre-dinner G&T is a perfect prelude to a meal
at Deck 5’s al fresco Topside Restaurant. From there, it’s but a meagre
amble up to the Top of the Yacht Bar
for outdoor nightcaps.
There are three passenger decks
on SeaDream with pricing working
upward from Deck 2, but honestly, unless you’ve opted for one of the suites
(and there are just two,) there is little
difference except for staterooms on
Deck 2 having twin portholes, and all
others picture windows.
The two suites are the Owners and
the Admiral; all 54 others (called
Yacht Club Staterooms) are identical,
except for those portholes on Deck 2,
and with some having inter-connecting internal doors.
Another favourite of repeat guests
was the all-inclusive beverages. Super quality wines, aperitifs and spirits
are there for the asking. Okay, if you
want Dom Pérignon, there’s a surcharge but the included drinks would
satisfy most discerning tastes and
many a late night was had at the Top
of the Yacht Bar in entertaining company.
SeaDream might sound like it’s
only for well-heeled seniors, but on
my sailing most passengers were
middle-aged or older couples, some
with young adult families enjoying true
luxury time together. For active types
‘water toys’ included Jet Skis, kayaks, Hobie Cats and others, and there
was a 30-course golf simulator.
To find fault with this well-oiled
offering is to appear churlish, but if
pressed I would say the bathrooms
are a bit tight (especially if you’ve
been enjoying the cuisine) and simple,
included shore excursions would be
nice, such as city walks led by crew
or staff members. The excursions on
my itinerary were add-ons ranging
from Shwedegon Pagoda ($49) to
Bagan by air ($795.) The only included tour was a tender visit to the
Sea Gypsy village.
Voyages are typically seven days,
some 10 to 14, and with early-booking discounts. SeaDream II and twin
sister SeaDream I each carries a maximum 112 guests and 95 crew, and in
the revered Berlitz Complete Guide
to Cruising and Cruise Ships 2013,
achieved the top two placings in the
‘Boutique Ships’ category (50-250
passengers.)
SeaDream II is now in the Mediterranean for its Northern Summer
season to October, and specialist
cruise-holiday travel agency, Cruise
Express has some exceptional prices
during this time – for example seven
nights from Athens to Rome in October with inclusions detailed above, six
ports in Greece and Italy, plus historic
Corinth Canal and viewing volcanic
Mt Stromboli, starts from US$4726pp

Page 14 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

■ If you can remember back to the early days
of television you may recall a program titled
People Are Funny which introduced us to the
American host Art Linkletter.
People Are Funny was a quiz show with comedy stunts and it was in production from 1955 till
1960.
Art Linkletter was born Gordon Arthur
Kelly in Canada in 1912. He was abandoned by
his natural parents and adopted by Mary and
John Linkletter.
In his teenage years, he moved to the United
States and graduated from San Diego University.
Art was going to be a teacher but began in
radio in 1933 at the local radio station KGB
where he was soon promoted to chief announcer.
He was married to his wife Lois for 75 years
and they had five children together. Art became
a naturalised US citizen in 1942.
Art Linkletter also presented the afternoon
program House Party on American television
which began in 1952 and ran for 25 years.
In later years, he hosted Kids Say The
Darndest Things. During his career Art interviewed more than 27,000 children on radio and
television.
He was the only person to have shows on the
three major American television networks. He
appeared in two films: People Are Funny and
Champagne for Caesar .
He was a personal friend of Walt Disney and

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Whatever
Happened
To ...
Art
Linkletter
By Kevin Trask
of 3AW and 96.5 Inner FM
hosted the official opening of Disneyland in Anaheim in 1955. His co-hosts on that day were
Ronald Reagan and Robert Cummings.
Art was nominated as a ‘Disney Legend’ and
was a ‘Gold Pass’ holder to Disneyland.
He purchased a million acres of land in
Esperence, Western Australia, for 15 cents an
acre in the early 1960s on the recommendation
of Harold Holt.
Art came to Australia many times and at one
stage he had 60,000 head of sheep on his farm.
The property was managed by Australian
farmer John Hagon whom Art regarded as the
best employee in any of the businesses that he
owned.
Art published 28 books, including a book

● Art Linkletter

based on his experiences in Australia titled Art
Linkletter Down Under. He appeared on a Channel 9Yooralla Telethon with my friend Philip
Brady
In 1969 his daughter Diane, who was just 20
at the time, jumped to her death from a sixth
floor apartment in Hollywood.
Art blamed the death on LSD, though the
drug use was never confirmed. He became an
ardent anti-drug crusader, releasing a hit record,
We Love You, Call Collect, which won a Grammy
Award. In 2005, at the age of 93, he was back at
Disneyland to open the Happiest Homecoming
on Earth as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations. I recorded a radio interview with Art
Linkletter in 2009 and it remains one of my
favourite interviews.
In his later years Art was a guest on the television program Larry King Live and toured
America giving motivational talks.
Art Linkletter passed away in 2010 from a
mild stroke at the age of 97. He was survived by
his wife Lois, daughters Dawn Griffin and
Sharon Linkletter, seven grandchildren and fifteen great-grandchildren. A life well led.
Kevin Trask
Kevin can be heard on radio The Time Tunnel - on Remember
When - Sundays at 9.10pm on 3AW
That's Entertainment - 96.5FM
Sundays at 12 Noon
96.5FM is streaming on the internet. .

Road dangers in the Northern Territory

■ The national average of people
killed on Australian roads each year
is about five people per 100,000 - in
the Northerm Territory it's about 20
per 100,000.
And a couple of incidents occurred
this month, twice in one day.
Every so often I report on pedestrians being killed on Territory roads.
A young woman stepped out onto
the highway last week and was instantly struck by a passing bus.
It seemed as though she was beginning to walk home to Mutujulu,
about 20 kms away.
Police haven't yet ascertained
whether "alcohol was involved".
And then, on the same day, another
gentleman in Alice Springs was walking up from the river bed, and decided
to have a sleep in the middle of the
road.
I often report on similar situations,
virtually unheard of elsewhere.
Sergeant Conan Robertson noted:
"Here we understand that an indigenous male has walked up from the
river, and for some reason he's laid
down across the road surface.
“It's something we tragically see
in the NT. I can't explain it. If someone chooses to lie down on the road,
they are really taking a big risk with
their lives. He could have been intoxicated, but that hasn't been confirmed."
And the police always recommend
that if a driver is involved in such a
situation, don't stop. Just drive round
to the police station and report it.
Stopping may involve an altercation with any witnessing relatives,
blaming the driver.
And indeed such incidents happen
all too often. The policeman also noted
that this is not only fatal for the victim,
but leaves on-going trauma for the innocent driver.

■ There have been many and varied
efforts to improve the lot and welfare
of indigenous youth in Alice Springs
but the last thing I would have thought
of would be tennis.
However, Evonne Goolagong
Cawley and her husband Roger visited
town to do just that.
And they brought the Evonne
Goolagong Foundation to town,
coaches and all.
"It's a program that my husband
Roger put together when we came
back from America in 1991. I wanted
to do what the townspeople did for me.
They gave me my first racquet, they

The
Outback
Legend

that these events were connected to
his alleged behaviour. He asked the
lawyer to explain how grief results in
breaking into banks.
He and his mates pleaded guilty to
breaking into the ANZ, trying to steal
some money, and then forcing their
way into a Chinese restaurant, where
they stole a small statue of a cat.
Such a situation has just so far away
from anything which I have ever experienced - I can't imagine the psychological impact of such an event on
a mere child.

entered me into a coaching school for
free, and they set me on my way really."
So 106 local indigenous students
attended the course for training, and
to get their interest in the sport growing.
And from them a handful of hopefuls will be selected to receive further
coaching and free lessons.
A worthy gesture on the part of one
of Australia's past champions.

■ The Alice Springs Police have
come up with a novel idea that is part
PR, and part just plain old communication with the community. It's called
Coffee with a Cop.
Three local establishments are participating in this exercise. "It's a Territory-wide institution to engage with
the community on a one-to-one basis," Superintendant Bradley Currie
explained.
So a few cops gather at these coffee spots from 9 till 11am on Thursdays, and locals are invited to join
them for a chat about various matters
which the police may be able to enlighten them on.
"This is a chance for the community to speak directly to a police officer, and hopefully get some feedback about any concerns, and ask any
questions," Bradley noted.
I reckon it's a great idea. I can
think of nothing better than to sit down
with a local policeman or two here,
and have a chat.
They may have some background
information for me, and I can get
some inside goss on persons of interest who were helping police with their
inquiries.

■ The Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service forwarded a
complaint about the remarks which a
judge had issued from his bench.
The judge noted that "there had
been a bit of a breakdown in his family". And he accused the boy of taking
advantage of his mother's killing.
"You've duchessed it. That means you
have taken advantage of it," he said.
The recipient of the comments
was a 13-year-old boy whose mother
had been brutally murdered few
weeks prior to his alleged offences.
And the boy's father was the primary
suspect.
But the judge was not convinced

■ Anyone who has ever visited Alice
Springs has noticed many juvenile
aboriginals, and many children among
them, roaming around the streets, day
and night.
And obviously, especially at night,
this can occasionally lead to various
types of trouble. I once had an aboriginal mate at in Alice Springs whose
job, as a full time employee of the
town council, was to drive round at
night and collect young kids who were
aimlessly roaming the streets, and take
them to a safe refuge for the night.
Now there is an After Hours Youth
Bus Service, run by the Central Australian Aboriginal Congress.

This is a worthy and helpful service, but there has been some concern expressed by the town council of
late.
There are two buses, and in May
alone they carried 2202 children, picking them up from the streets and taking them back to their homes. On
three nights there were over a hundred youths delivered to their homes
and their parents.

Can one imagine if there were a
couple of buses wheeling around the
streets of Mornington, which is approximately the same population as
Alice Springs, each night collecting
100 kids roaming the streets, and delivering them back to their homes? A
total outcry, yet this is just the norm
for the streets of Alice Springs.
- Nick Le Souef
‘The Outback Legend’

OK. With John O’Keefe
Rev radio

■ Crocmedia has announced yet another new concept for radio. Still in the
development stages the program is all about motor racing and will be compared by touring car tragic Matt MacKeldren, along with V8 driver Steve
Johnson.
Stay tuned for announcement of network taking the track talk show.

Cram TV

■ Cash strapped Channel 10 has commissioned a new quiz show featuring Pete Helliar as host.
Called Cram, it is a locally produced concept vaguey along the lines of
Have You Been Paying Attention ?
An on-air date and time slot yet to be announced. Pete Helliar was overheard to say “Ten might be paying my wages by way of Maccas vouchers.”

Sunshine on SBS

■ One program to watch on SBS later this year is Sunshine. Produced in
and around the suburb of Sunshine it tells the story of a South Sudenese/
Australian basketballer making his way through the ranks of society. It is
produced by Essential Films.

Madonna sues

■ Madonna has got her knickers in a twist and is threatening to sue a
former friend for stealing certain personal items and getting a New York
Auction House to sell them off to highest bidder.
Personal items include her hair brush, letters and several pairs of her
underwear.

Bert’s birthday

■ Bert Newton turns 79 this week. Part of his celebtations included a
tribute to Bert on Channel Ten's Studio 10 with a roast from friends and
former members of Good Morning Australia.
From all accounts Bert is back to his cheeky best, and certainly hasn’t
lost the gift of quick one line gags.
- John O’Keefe

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
I was sorry to hear Jim say that, it was such a
lowering of him. My conscience got to stirring
me up hotter than ever, until at last I says to it,
“Let up on me — it ain’t too late yet — I’ll
paddle ashore at the first light and tell.” I felt
easy and happy and light as a feather right off.
All my troubles was gone. I went to looking out
sharp for a light, and sort of singing to myself.
By and by one showed. Jim sings out:
“We’s safe, Huck, we’s safe! Jump up and crack
yo’ heels! Dat’s de good ole Cairo at las’, I jis
knows it!”
I says:
“I’ll take the canoe and go and see, Jim. It
mightn’t be, you know.”
He jumped and got the canoe ready, and put his
old coat in the bottom for me to set on, and give
me the paddle; and as I shoved off, he says:
“Pooty soon I’ll be a-shout’n’ for joy, en I’ll say,
it’s all on accounts o’ Huck; I’s a free man, en I
couldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’ ben for Huck;
Huck done it. Jim won’t ever forgit you, Huck;
you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had; en you’s de
ONLY fren’ole Jim’s got now.”
I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him;
but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take
the tuck all out of me. I went along slow then,
and I warn’t right down certain whether I was
glad I started or whether I warn’t. When I was
fifty yards off, Jim says:
“Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on’y white
genlman dat ever kep’ his promise to ole Jim.”
Well, I just felt sick. But I says, I GOT to do it —
I can’t get OUT of it. Right then along comes a
skiff with two men in it with guns, and they
stopped and I stopped. One of them says:
“What’s that yonder?”
“A piece of a raft,” I says.
“Do you belong on it?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Any men on it?”
“Only one, sir.”
“Well, there’s five niggers run off to-night up
yonder, above the head of the bend. Is your man
white or black?”
I didn’t answer up prompt. I tried to, but the
words wouldn’t come. I tried for a second or
two to brace up and out with it, but I warn’t man
enough — hadn’t the spunk of a rabbit. I see I
was weakening; so I just give up trying, and up
and says:
“He’s white.”
“I reckon we’ll go and see for ourselves.”
“I wish you would,” says I, “because it’s pap
that’s there, and maybe you’d help me tow the
raft ashore where the light is. He’s sick — and
so is mam and Mary Ann.”
“Oh, the devil! we’re in a hurry, boy. But I s’pose
we’ve got to. Come, buckle to your paddle, and
let’s get along.”
I buckled to my paddle and they laid to their
oars. When we had made a stroke or two, I
says:
“Pap’ll be mighty much obleeged to you, I can
tell you. Everybody goes away when I want them
to help me tow the raft ashore, and I can’t do it
by myself.”
“Well, that’s infernal mean. Odd, too. Say, boy,
what’s the matter with your father?”
“It’s the — a — the — well, it ain’t anything
much.”
They stopped pulling. It warn’t but a mighty little
ways to the raft now. One says:
“Boy, that’s a lie. What IS the matter with your
pap? Answer up square now, and it’ll be the
better for you.”
“I will, sir, I will, honest — but don’t leave us,
please. It’s the — the — Gentlemen, if you’ll
only pull ahead, and let me heave you the headline, you won’t have to come a-near the raft —
please do.”
“Set her back, John, set her back!” says one.
They backed water. “Keep away, boy — keep
to looard. Confound it, I just expect the wind has
blowed it to us. Your pap’s got the small-pox,
and you know it precious well. Why didn’t you
come out and say so? Do you want to spread it
all over?”
“Well,” says I, a-blubbering, “I’ve told everybody before, and they just went away and left
us.”
“Poor devil, there’s something in that. We are
right down sorry for you, but we — well, hang it,

Mark Twain
we don’t want the small-pox, you see. Look
here, I’ll tell you what to do. Don’t you try to
land by yourself, or you’ll smash everything to
pieces. You float along down about twenty
miles, and you’ll come to a town on the lefthand side of the river. It will be long after sunup then, and when you ask for help you tell
them your folks are all down with chills and
fever. Don’t be a fool again, and let people guess
what is the matter. Now we’re trying to do you a
kindness; so you just put twenty miles between
us, that’s a good boy. It wouldn’t do any good to
land yonder where the light is — it’s only a woodyard. Say, I reckon your father’s poor, and I’m
bound to say he’s in pretty hard luck. Here, I’ll
put a twenty-dollar gold piece on this board,
and you get it when it floats by. I feel mighty
mean to leave you; but my kingdom! it won’t do
to fool with small-pox, don’t you see?”
“Hold on, Parker,” says the other man, “here’s
a twenty to put on the board for me. Good-bye,
boy; you do as Mr. Parker told you, and you’ll
be all right.”
“That’s so, my boy — good-bye, good-bye. If
you see any runaway niggers you get help and
nab them, and you can make some money by
it.”
“Good-bye, sir,” says I; “I won’t let no runaway niggers get by me if I can help it.”
They went off and I got aboard the raft, feeling
bad and low, because I knowed very well I had
done wrong, and I see it warn’t no use for me to
try to learn to do right; a body that don’t get
STARTED right when he’s little ain’t got no
show — when the pinch comes there ain’t nothing to back him up and keep him to his work,
and so he gets beat. Then I thought a minute,
and says to myself, hold on; s’pose you’d a done
right and give Jim up, would you felt better than

what you do now? No, says I, I’d feel bad — I’d
feel just the same way I do now. Well, then,
says I, what’s the use you learning to do right
when it’s troublesome to do right and ain’t no
trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the
same? I was stuck. I couldn’t answer that. So I
reckoned I wouldn’t bother no more about it, but
after this always do whichever come handiest
at the time.
I went into the wigwam; Jim warn’t there. I
looked all around; he warn’t anywhere. I says:
“Jim!”
“Here I is, Huck. Is dey out o’ sight yit? Don’t
talk loud.”
He was in the river under the stern oar, with just
his nose out. I told him they were out of sight, so
he come aboard. He says:
“I was a-listenin’ to all de talk, en I slips into de
river en was gwyne to shove for sho’ if dey come
aboard. Den I was gwyne to swim to de raf’
agin when dey was gone. But lawsy, how you
did fool ’em, Huck! Dat WUZ de smartes’
dodge! I tell you, chile, I’spec it save’ ole Jim —
ole Jim ain’t going to forgit you for dat, honey.”
Then we talked about the money. It was a pretty
good raise — twenty dollars apiece. Jim said
we could take deck passage on a steamboat
now, and the money would last us as far as we
wanted to go in the free States. He said twenty
mile more warn’t far for the raft to go, but he
wished we was already there.
Towards daybreak we tied up, and Jim was
mighty particular about hiding the raft good. Then
he worked all day fixing things in bundles, and
getting all ready to quit rafting.
That night about ten we hove in sight of the lights
of a town away down in a left-hand bend.
I went off in the canoe to ask about it. Pretty
soon I found a man out in the river with a skiff,

setting a trot-line. I ranged up and says:
“Mister, is that town Cairo?”
“Cairo? no. You must be a blame’ fool.”
“What town is it, mister?”
“If you want to know, go and find out. If you stay
here botherin’ around me for about a half a
minute longer you’ll get something you won’t
want.”
I paddled to the raft. Jim was awful disappointed,
but I said never mind, Cairo would be the next
place, I reckoned.
We passed another town before daylight, and I
was going out again; but it was high ground, so I
didn’t go. No high ground about Cairo, Jim said.
I had forgot it. We laid up for the day on a towhead tolerable close to the left-hand bank. I begun to suspicion something. So did Jim. I says:
“Maybe we went by Cairo in the fog that night.”
He says:
“Doan’ le’s talk about it, Huck. Po’ niggers can’t
have no luck. I awluz ’spected dat rattlesnakeskin warn’t done wid its work.”
“I wish I’d never seen that snake-skin, Jim — I
do wish I’d never laid eyes on it.”
“It ain’t yo’ fault, Huck; you didn’ know. Don’t
you blame yo’self ’bout it.”
When it was daylight, here was the clear Ohio
water inshore, sure enough, and outside was the
old regular Muddy! So it was all up with Cairo.
We talked it all over. It wouldn’t do to take to the
shore; we couldn’t take the raft up the stream,
of course. There warn’t no way but to wait for
dark, and start back in the canoe and take the
chances. So we slept all day amongst the cottonwood thicket, so as to be fresh for the work,
and when we went back to the raft about dark
the canoe was gone!
We didn’t say a word for a good while. There
warn’t anything to say. We both knowed well
enough it was some more work of the rattlesnake-skin; so what was the use to talk about it?
It would only look like we was finding fault, and
that would be bound to fetch more bad luck —
and keep on fetching it, too, till we knowed
enough to keep still.
By and by we talked about what we better do,
and found there warn’t no way but just to go
along down with the raft till we got a chance to
buy a canoe to go back in. We warn’t going to
borrow it when there warn’t anybody around,
the way pap would do, for that might set people
after us.
So we shoved out after dark on the raft.
Anybody that don’t believe yet that it’s foolishness to handle a snake-skin, after all that that
snake-skin done for us, will believe it now if
they read on and see what more it done for us.
The place to buy canoes is off of rafts laying up
at shore. But we didn’t see no rafts laying up; so
we went along during three hours and more.
Well, the night got gray and ruther thick, which
is the next meanest thing to fog. You can’t tell
the shape of the river, and you can’t see no distance. It got to be very late and still, and then
along comes a steamboat up the river. We lit the
lantern, and judged she would see it. Up-stream
boats didn’t generly come close to us; they go
out and follow the bars and hunt for easy water
under the reefs; but nights like this they bull right
up the channel against the whole river.
We could hear her pounding along, but we didn’t
see her good till she was close. She aimed right
for us. Often they do that and try to see how
close they can come without touching; sometimes the wheel bites off a sweep, and then the
pilot sticks his head out and laughs, and thinks
he’s mighty smart. Well, here she comes, and
we said she was going to try and shave us; but
she didn’t seem to be sheering off a bit. She was
a big one, and she was coming in a hurry, too,
looking like a black cloud with rows of glowworms around it; but all of a sudden she bulged
out, big and scary, with a long row of wide-open
furnace doors shining like red-hot teeth, and her
monstrous bows and guards hanging right over
us. There was a yell at us, and a jingling of bells
to stop the engines, a powwow of cussing, and
whistling of steam — and as Jim went overboard on one side and I on the other, she come
smashing straight through the raft.
I dived — and I aimed to find the bottom, too,
for a thirty-foot wheel had got to go over me,

Continued on Page 16

Page 16 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Observer Classic Books
From Page 15
and I wanted it to have plenty of room. I could
always stay under water a minute; this time I
reckon I stayed under a minute and a half. Then
I bounced for the top in a hurry, for I was nearly
busting. I popped out to my armpits and blowed
the water out of my nose, and puffed a bit. Of
course there was a booming current; and of
course that boat started her engines again ten
seconds after she stopped them, for they never
cared much for raftsmen; so now she was churning along up the river, out of sight in the thick
weather, though I could hear her.
I sung out for Jim about a dozen times, but I
didn’t get any answer; so I grabbed a plank that
touched me while I was “treading water,” and
struck out for shore, shoving it ahead of me. But
I made out to see that the drift of the current was
towards the left-hand shore, which meant that I
was in a crossing; so I changed off and went
that way.
It was one of these long, slanting, two-mile crossings; so I was a good long time in getting over. I
made a safe landing, and clumb up the bank. I
couldn’t see but a little ways, but I went poking
along over rough ground for a quarter of a mile
or more, and then I run across a big old-fashioned double log-house before I noticed it. I was
going to rush by and get away, but a lot of dogs
jumped out and went to howling and barking at
me, and I knowed better than to move another
peg.
Chapter XVII.
IN about a minute somebody spoke out of a
window without putting his head out, and says:
“Be done, boys! Who’s there?”
I says:
“It’s me.”
“Who’s me?”
“George Jackson, sir.”
“What do you want?”
“I don’t want nothing, sir. I only want to go along
by, but the dogs won’t let me.”
“What are you prowling around here this time
of night for — hey?”
“I warn’t prowling around, sir, I fell overboard
off of the steamboat.”
“Oh, you did, did you? Strike a light there, somebody. What did you say your name was?”
“George Jackson, sir. I’m only a boy.”
“Look here, if you’re telling the truth you needn’t
be afraid — nobody’ll hurt you. But don’t try to
budge; stand right where you are. Rouse out Bob
and Tom, some of you, and fetch the guns.
George Jackson, is there anybody with you?”
“No, sir, nobody.”
I heard the people stirring around in the house
now, and see a light. The man sung out:
“Snatch that light away, Betsy, you old fool —
ain’t you got any sense? Put it on the floor behind the front door. Bob, if you and Tom are
ready, take your places.”
“All ready.”
“Now, George Jackson, do you know the
Shepherdsons?”
“No, sir; I never heard of them.”
“Well, that may be so, and it mayn’t. Now, all
ready. Step forward, George Jackson. And mind,
don’t you hurry — come mighty slow. If there’s
anybody with you, let him keep back — if he
shows himself he’ll be shot. Come along now.
Come slow; push the door open yourself — just
enough to squeeze in, d’ you hear?”
I didn’t hurry; I couldn’t if I’d a wanted to. I took
one slow step at a time and there warn’t a sound,
only I thought I could hear my heart. The dogs
were as still as the humans, but they followed a
little behind me. When I got to the three log
doorsteps I heard them unlocking and unbarring
and unbolting. I put my hand on the door and
pushed it a little and a little more till somebody
said, “There, that’s enough — put your head
in.” I done it, but I judged they would take it off.
The candle was on the floor, and there they all
was, looking at me, and me at them, for about a
quarter of a minute: Three big men with guns
pointed at me, which made me wince, I tell you;
the oldest, gray and about sixty, the other two
thirty or more — all of them fine and handsome
— and the sweetest old gray-headed lady, and
back of her two young women which I couldn’t
see right well. The old gentleman says:
“There; I reckon it’s all right. Come in.”
As soon as I was in the old gentleman he locked
the door and barred it and bolted it, and told the
young men to come in with their guns, and they
all went in a big parlor that had a new rag carpet
on the floor, and got together in a corner that
was out of the range of the front windows —
there warn’t none on the side. They held the

candle, and took a good look at me, and all said,
“Why, HE ain’t a Shepherdson — no, there ain’t
any Shepherdson about him.” Then the old man
said he hoped I wouldn’t mind being searched
for arms, because he didn’t mean no harm by it
— it was only to make sure. So he didn’t pry into
my pockets, but only felt outside with his hands,
and said it was all right. He told me to make
myself easy and at home, and tell all about myself; but the old lady says:
“Why, bless you, Saul, the poor thing’s as wet
as he can be; and don’t you reckon it may be
he’s hungry?”
“True for you, Rachel — I forgot.”
So the old lady says:
“Betsy” (this was a nigger woman), “you fly
around and get him something to eat as quick as
you can, poor thing; and one of you girls go and
wake up Buck and tell him — oh, here he is
himself. Buck, take this little stranger and get
the wet clothes off from him and dress him up in
some of yours that’s dry.”
Buck looked about as old as me — thirteen or
fourteen or along there, though he was a little
bigger than me. He hadn’t on anything but a
shirt, and he was very frowzy-headed. He came
in gaping and digging one fist into his eyes, and
he was dragging a gun along with the other one.
He says:
“Ain’t they no Shepherdsons around?”
They said, no, ’twas a false alarm.
“Well,” he says, “if they’d a ben some, I reckon
I’d a got one.”
They all laughed, and Bob says:
“Why, Buck, they might have scalped us all,
you’ve been so slow in coming.”
“Well, nobody come after me, and it ain’t right
I’m always kept down; I don’t get no show.”
“Never mind, Buck, my boy,” says the old man,
“you’ll have show enough, all in good time, don’t
you fret about that. Go ’long with you now, and
do as your mother told you.”
When we got up-stairs to his room he got me a
coarse shirt and a roundabout and pants of his,
and I put them on. While I was at it he asked me
what my name was, but before I could tell him
he started to tell me about a bluejay and a young
rabbit he had catched in the woods day before
yesterday, and he asked me where Moses was
when the candle went out. I said I didn’t know; I
hadn’t heard about it before, no way.
“Well, guess,” he says.
“How’m I going to guess,” says I, “when I never
heard tell of it before?”
“But you can guess, can’t you? It’s just as easy.”
“WHICH candle?” I says.
“Why, any candle,” he says.
“I don’t know where he was,” says I; “where
was he?”
“Why, he was in the DARK! That’s where he
was!”
“Well, if you knowed where he was, what did
you ask me for?”
“Why, blame it, it’s a riddle, don’t you see? Say,
how long are you going to stay here? You got to
stay always. We can just have booming times
— they don’t have no school now. Do you own a
dog? I’ve got a dog — and he’ll go in the river
and bring out chips that you throw in. Do you
like to comb up Sundays, and all that kind of
foolishness? You bet I don’t, but ma she makes
me. Confound these ole britches! I reckon I’d
better put ’em on, but I’d ruther not, it’s so warm.
Are you all ready? All right. Come along, old
hoss.”
Cold corn-pone, cold corn-beef, butter and buttermilk — that is what they had for me down
there, and there ain’t nothing better that ever
I’ve come across yet. Buck and his ma and all
of them smoked cob pipes, except the nigger
woman, which was gone, and the two young
women. They all smoked and talked, and I eat
and talked. The young women had quilts around
them, and their hair down their backs. They all
asked me questions, and I told them how pap
and me and all the family was living on a little
farm down at the bottom of Arkansaw, and my
sister Mary Ann run off and got married and
never was heard of no more, and Bill went to
hunt them and he warn’t heard of no more, and
Tom and Mort died, and then there warn’t nobody but just me and pap left, and he was just
trimmed down to nothing, on account of his
troubles; so when he died I took what there was
left, because the farm didn’t belong to us, and
started up the river, deck passage, and fell overboard; and that was how I come to be here. So
they said I could have a home there as long as I
wanted it. Then it was most daylight and everybody went to bed, and I went to bed with Buck,

and when I waked up in the morning, drat it all,
I had forgot what my name was. So I laid there
about an hour trying to think, and when Buck
waked up I says:
“Can you spell, Buck?”
“Yes,” he says.
“I bet you can’t spell my name,” says I.
“I bet you what you dare I can,” says he.
“All right,” says I, “go ahead.”
“G-e-o-r-g-e J-a-x-o-n — there now,” he says.
“Well,” says I, “you done it, but I didn’t think
you could. It ain’t no slouch of a name to spell
— right off without studying.”
I set it down, private, because somebody might
want ME to spell it next, and so I wanted to be
handy with it and rattle it off like I was used to it.
It was a mighty nice family, and a mighty nice
house, too. I hadn’t seen no house out in the
country before that was so nice and had so much
style. It didn’t have an iron latch on the front
door, nor a wooden one with a buckskin string,
but a brass knob to turn, the same as houses in
town. There warn’t no bed in the parlor, nor a
sign of a bed; but heaps of parlors in towns has
beds in them. There was a big fireplace that
was bricked on the bottom, and the bricks was
kept clean and red by pouring water on them
and scrubbing them with another brick; sometimes they wash them over with red water-paint
that they call Spanish-brown, same as they do
in town. They had big brass dog-irons that could
hold up a saw-log. There was a clock on the
middle of the mantelpiece, with a picture of a
town painted on the bottom half of the glass front,
and a round place in the middle of it for the sun,
and you could see the pendulum swinging behind it. It was beautiful to hear that clock tick;
and sometimes when one of these peddlers had
been along and scoured her up and got her in
good shape, she would start in and strike a hundred and fifty before she got tuckered out. They
wouldn’t took any money for her.
Well, there was a big outlandish parrot on each
side of the clock, made out of something like
chalk, and painted up gaudy. By one of the parrots was a cat made of crockery, and a crockery
dog by the other; and when you pressed down
on them they squeaked, but didn’t open their
mouths nor look different nor interested. They
squeaked through underneath. There was a
couple of big wild-turkey-wing fans spread out
behind those things. On the table in the middle
of the room was a kind of a lovely crockery
basket that had apples and oranges and peaches
and grapes piled up in it, which was much redder and yellower and prettier than real ones is,
but they warn’t real because you could see
where pieces had got chipped off and showed
the white chalk, or whatever it was, underneath.
This table had a cover made out of beautiful
oilcloth, with a red and blue spread-eagle painted
on it, and a painted border all around. It come all
the way from Philadelphia, they said. There was
some books, too, piled up perfectly exact, on
each corner of the table. One was a big family
Bible full of pictures. One was Pilgrim’s
Progress, about a man that left his family, it didn’t
say why. I read considerable in it now and then.
The statements was interesting, but tough. Another was Friendship’s Offering, full of beautiful stuff and poetry; but I didn’t read the poetry.
Another was Henry Clay’s Speeches, and another was Dr. Gunn’s Family Medicine, which
told you all about what to do if a body was sick
or dead. There was a hymn book, and a lot of
other books. And there was nice split-bottom
chairs, and perfectly sound, too — not bagged
down in the middle and busted, like an old basket.
They had pictures hung on the walls — mainly
Washingtons and Lafayettes, and battles, and
Highland Marys, and one called “Signing the
Declaration.” There was some that they called
crayons, which one of the daughters which was
dead made her own self when she was only
fifteen years old. They was different from any
pictures I ever see before — blacker, mostly,
than is common. One was a woman in a slim
black dress, belted small under the armpits, with
bulges like a cabbage in the middle of the
sleeves, and a large black scoop-shovel bonnet
with a black veil, and white slim ankles crossed
about with black tape, and very wee black slippers, like a chisel, and she was leaning pensive
on a tombstone on her right elbow, under a weeping willow, and her other hand hanging down
her side holding a white handkerchief and a reticule, and underneath the picture it said “Shall I
Never See Thee More Alas.” Another one was
a young lady with her hair all combed up straight

to the top of her head, and knotted there in front
of a comb like a chair-back, and she was crying
into a handkerchief and had a dead bird laying
on its back in her other hand with its heels up,
and underneath the picture it said “I Shall Never
Hear Thy Sweet Chirrup More Alas.” There
was one where a young lady was at a window
looking up at the moon, and tears running down
her cheeks; and she had an open letter in one
hand with black sealing wax showing on one
edge of it, and she was mashing a locket with a
chain to it against her mouth, and underneath
the picture it said “And Art Thou Gone Yes Thou
Art Gone Alas.” These was all nice pictures, I
reckon, but I didn’t somehow seem to take to
them, because if ever I was down a little they
always give me the fan-tods. Everybody was
sorry she died, because she had laid out a lot
more of these pictures to do, and a body could
see by what she had done what they had lost.
But I reckoned that with her disposition she was
having a better time in the graveyard. She was
at work on what they said was her greatest picture when she took sick, and every day and every night it was her prayer to be allowed to live
till she got it done, but she never got the chance.
It was a picture of a young woman in a long
white gown, standing on the rail of a bridge all
ready to jump off, with her hair all down her
back, and looking up to the moon, with the tears
running down her face, and she had two arms
folded across her breast, and two arms stretched
out in front, and two more reaching up towards
the moon — and the idea was to see which pair
would look best, and then scratch out all the
other arms; but, as I was saying, she died before
she got her mind made up, and now they kept
this picture over the head of the bed in her room,
and every time her birthday come they hung
flowers on it. Other times it was hid with a little
curtain. The young woman in the picture had a
kind of a nice sweet face, but there was so many
arms it made her look too spidery, seemed to
me.
This young girl kept a scrap-book when she was
alive, and used to paste obituaries and accidents
and cases of patient suffering in it out of the
Presbyterian Observer, and write poetry after
them out of her own head. It was very good
poetry. This is what she wrote about a boy by
the name of Stephen Dowling Bots that fell down
a well and was drownded:
ODE TO STEPHEN DOWLING BOTS,
DEC’D
And did young Stephen sicken, And did young
Stephen die? And did the sad hearts thicken,
And did the mourners cry?
No; such was not the fate of Young Stephen
Dowling Bots; Though sad hearts round him
thickened, ’Twas not from sickness’ shots.
No whooping-cough did rack his frame, Nor
measles drear with spots; Not these impaired
the sacred name Of Stephen Dowling Bots.
Despised love struck not with woe That head of
curly knots, Nor stomach troubles laid him low,
Young Stephen Dowling Bots.
O no. Then list with tearful eye, Whilst I his fate
do tell. His soul did from this cold world fly By
falling down a well.
They got him out and emptied him; Alas it was
too late; His spirit was gone for to sport aloft In
the realms of the good and great.
If Emmeline Grangerford could make poetry
like that before she was fourteen, there ain’t no
telling what she could a done by and by. Buck
said she could rattle off poetry like nothing. She
didn’t ever have to stop to think. He said she
would slap down a line, and if she couldn’t find
anything to rhyme with it would just scratch it
out and slap down another one, and go ahead.
She warn’t particular; she could write about anything you choose to give her to write about just
so it was sadful. Every time a man died, or a
woman died, or a child died, she would be on
hand with her “tribute” before he was cold.
She called them tributes. The neighbors said it
was the doctor first, then Emmeline, then the
undertaker — the undertaker never got in ahead
of Emmeline but once, and then she hung fire
on a rhyme for the dead person’s name, which
was Whistler. She warn’t ever the same after
that; she never complained, but she kinder pined
away and did not live long. Poor thing, many’s
the time I made myself go up to the little room
that used to be hers and get out her poor old
scrap-book and read in it when her pictures had
been aggravating me and I had soured on her a
little. I liked all that family, dead ones and all,
and warn’t going to let anything come between
us.
To Be Continued Next Issue

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Strath Creek State School: 125 years on
■ 2017 marks the 125th anniversary
of the opening of Strath Creek State
School.
Noreen Foster published A Century of Education at Strath Creek,
25 years ago, in 1992.
She wrote: “From the time it was
first suggested to the Education
Board of Advice in Broadford in
June, 1878, that a petition had been
presented for a new school to be established in the district, considerable
discussion took place as to the siting
of the school, whether it be two part
time school in two different locations,
or a full-time school at one location.
“In June 1878 a petition was presented to the Board ‘praying that a
new school be established about one
mile south of the Kerrisdale Home
Station ... suggest reservation from
sale or selection part of Allotment
54A ... a considerable number of selectors have taken up in the neighnourhood and unless a site is reserved it will be have to be purchased.”
“Mr S. Lade, who had selected
land at Strath Creek in 1879 that he
had a family of nine children, seven
under school age and was anxious
that a school be located within a suitable distance from his selection.
“It took the concerted effort of the
Mitchell, Yorston, Sheppard and
Pattison families with a majority of
children eligible to attend school to
have it finally built in 1881.
“The site chosen was 5A, Parish
of Kerrisdale on Yorston’s Lane,
part of the present property Summerlea).
Mrs Foster wrote: “The Board
of Advice also noted to the department that land had been set aside on
un-alienated land south of Allotment
98 (opposite S. Lade’s selection) in
Falls Rd but owing to the rugged nature of the country, if a school was
built there, it would be inaccessible.
“At the time Mr Lade also suggested Allotment 94 (later to become
the site of the township) as a possible site.
“The Education Department felt
that as Allotment 94, was only 2½miles from Allotment 54A, a distance
far less than the practice in country
schools, it should not be considered.
“As well as the petition, many letters were sent to the Education Department in 1879, requesting the
establishment of a school.
“Families in the area within a twomile radius had 36 children of school
age ‘some of them have been living
here over 12 months and is forgetting what they have learnt through
the want of a school’ (according to a
letter from Richard Mitchell to the
Department in 1879).
Mrs Foster recalled that: “Mr
Glover, squatter of Kerrisdale Station, also entered the debate saying
where the school should go (the proposed site was part of his squatting
run) even though he didn’t have any
school aged children.
“It was felt by selector John
Yorston ‘that his motive is a selfish
one and he is trying to injure the selectors by keeping the school from
them’.
“The Education Department finally decided to establish a full time
school on Allotment 54A and leave
in abeyance the question of providing school accommodation for Strath
Creek.
“Application was made to the
Lands Department for a suitable site
of five acres, but the land in quest-

● School children in 1918.
Back row, from left: Fay Hillear,
Linda Forbes, Sheila Hart, Jean
Lade, Edna Daws, Eve Watson,
Eileen Daws, Hilda Lade, Miss
Phelan, Kate Forbes, Ted Keays,
Daisy Richards, Laurence
Mitchell, Bert Mitchell. Middle
row: Charlie Watson, Greg
Mitchell, Willie Forbes, Frank
Keays, Reg Keays, Stephen
Lade, Ella Forbes, Jean Daws,
Mary Keays. Front row: Myrtle
Keays, Connie Forbes, Ida
Watson, Keith Keays.
formed part of a block of 300 acres
withheld under Section 102 of Land
Act 1869 to protect a sheep wash.
“The consent of the pastoral tenant had to be obtained. Mr Glover
and Associates Pastoral tenants refused but the site was eventually
gazetted on October 3, 1879.
“In 1880 a portable classroom
with quarters was authorised but, with
wrangling about sites locally especially after arriving in Broadford, it
was sent elsewhere.
“Vocal antagonism between Mr
Lade and others in the Strath Creek
area who had 14 children able to attend school, and parents living near
the gazetted site had 40 children able
to attend, as to the final siting of the
school was the problem.
“Finally in June 1880 the Board
of Advice Broadford recommended
the erection of a school in the southeast corner of McLelland’s fortified
block (5A).
“The Education Department
sent a memo to Mr Lade informing
him that the department siting of the
school had been guided solely by the
desire to fix a site that would secure
the largest attendance.
“It regretted that owing to his comparative isolation from the other
families, no better provision for his
family could be made.
“In the same year King Parrot
Creek School (on the triangle roaqd)
was closed and children could attend
proposed Kerrisdale school.
“Portable classroom with quarters was finally despatched in February 1881. The school was to be
known as 2405 Kerrisdale. Head
teacher was to pay £4 per year for
residence.
“Mr Josephn Evcans was the
contractor to erect the school.
Costs
Building ................. £116.16.0
Desks, etc .................. £4.17.6
Paint white lead ......... £2.14.4
Carriage ..................... £23.0.0
Contract price including extras

for cutting, removing and burning
trees £17.8.0
“Instructions to contractor included: Materials to be supplied - 42
best local hardwood stumps 5” x 5”
sawn or 8” round average 3’ long
stumps plus stumps for tanks. Stones
or bricks for chimney foundations
made into a solid bed for iron chimney. Solder for eaves and gutter, glue
for furniture. Paint - outside woodwork 3 coats eaves, gutters, down
pipes, 2 coats doors, windows, 1 coat
inside and out. Tank set up. Closets
put together.”
Mrs Foster said: “Everything to
put the building together was included. All timbers, windows, iron
rails, screws coat hooks, putty, tap
washers, coal tar, came in bundles
and boxes, precut with instructions
for assembly and position.
“Included was two 400 gallon
wrought iron ships tanks complete
with overflows;
2 iron chimneys;
2 cast iron hearths, backs and
gratings;
14 foot ladder;
2 out offices in parts.
Furniture:
2 7’6” desks and seats
2 6’ desks and seats
2 6’ forms
“The school was certified satisfactorily completed by travelling inspector of School Buildings, F.
Findlay on May 12, 1881.
“Arguments about and around the
school continued. W. Richards had
erected a post and two rail 3 wire
fence in front of the school in 1881
and had been grazing his cattle on
the school land since then.
“He complained to Mr Lade that
his children’s pony was wandering
on his land while the children were
at school.
“Suddenly in 1887 when applying for his land lease, he tried to pressure the Department into fencing the
other two sides of the school block
to save him from the expense of
fencing.
Turn To Page 18

● Visit by the school dentist in the 1960s

● Parents of Strath Creek children were active in
organising a local school. Broadford Courier, Jan. 15, 1892

Page 34 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 19, 2017

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Local History
● From Page 17
“As it was part of his licence
agreement, he felt the previous fencing he had done warranted the Department doing the rest.
“The Department agreed to pay
half costs and the residents had to
pay the rest - a novel way to get your
selection fenced.
“A concert was held in the Temperance Hall to raise funds to pay
for the fence. 70-80 people attended.
Miss Lade sand The Skipper And
His Boy and We’d Better Bide A Wee
with much sweetness and feeling.
“Others to perform were Misses
Craig, Fothergill, Holliday and McConchie, and Mr F. Lade. Dancing
started at 11pm until the ‘wee small
hours’,” Ms Forster quoted a local
newspaper to say.
“During 1888 Mr Cockrem who
had been part-timing between King
Parrot Creek and Doogalook
Schools, was appointed to Kerrisdale school to part-time with King
Parrot Creek.
“He requested to teach thre edays
at Kerrisdale and two at King Parrot Creek. There were 25 children
attending Kerrisdale, with nine
above third class, and 15 at King
Paroot Creek with two above third
class.
“The Department was not desirous of change. He also felt the
Kerrisdale school should be painted
as it hadn’t been since it had been
erected seven years previously granted.
“As the school population altered,
moves began to have the school resited. In July 1890 the Department
decided to work 2405 Kerrisdale and
the new school at Strath Creek temporary unclassified school (No 3044)
on the half time system.
“The number of children attending Kerrisdale school in June 1890
was 18. Diptheria had been prevalent in the district and parents were
not keen to send their children to
school, one family of five school age
children, whose house was infected,
hadn’t attended for three months.
“The Broadford Courier reported
on April 25, 1891, that ‘Since the
opening of the public school unclassified as Strath Creek, the children
have shown a marked improvement
in most branches of learning.
“A report of the State School Inspector visiting the unclassified
school at Strath Creek in August
1891 shows that it was as the parents
expected.
“The all round improvement was
phenomenal, the percentage was
raised to 83 per cent for children in
the senior division. A well deserved
compliment was passed to teacher
Mr Wilson.’
“It was reported in the Broadford
Courier, Friday, January 15, 1892,
that ‘Strath Creek School was closed
at the commencement of mid summer holidays. Mr Wilson transferred
and the children were to be transported at parents’ expense five miles
to Kerrisdale school.
“Although Strath is comparatively a new one and unclassified,
Kerrisdale is government and long
established. Strath Creek parents are
said to be determined not to send their
children away and thus the matter
stand.’
“Mr M. Fitzgerald helped draw
up a petition and it was sent to the
authorities.”
Mrs Foster’s A Century of Education at Strath Creek continued:
“Mr Fitzgerald, W. Forbes, S. Lade
and others were displeased that
school No 3044 (temporary school)
was closed and that there was an average attendance of 11 children. It
was too far for the children to walk
to Kerrisdale, and requesting the

Rich legacy
in Noreen
Foster’s work

● S.S. No 2405 in Yorston’s Lane prior to 1892
the removal of 2405. D.I. Gates in Green, 13; Thomas Green, 11; Ed- 2 black boards; 1 easel; 1 teachers
April 1892 in an inter-department ward Green, 8; George Green, 7; desk and stool; 1 press and 2 chairs;
nore recommending that Black 3 and Mary Green, 9; Charlotte Gooch, 11; 24 hat pegs; 2 tanks; 37 framed slates;
4 Crown Land between Fitzgerald Ellen Gooch, 7; Albert Gooch, 5; 16 leaden ink wells.
and Ferguson Streets be obtained for William Richards, 6; George Rich“Maps included two of the world
future requirements. No 3 was then ards, 4.”
and Victoria and Europe. One each
considered enough.
“Inspector Eddy reported in July of Africa, Asia, America, Australia
“In 1892, Wm. Fothergill, Sec. 1892 ‘that the Principal parent Green and Australasia.
Board of Advice, sent another letter with four plkus children had the black“Royal readers 1 each of sixth,
to Department re removal with a list smiths shop in the township and he fifth and second, 4 fourth, 3 third and
of children who would attend the pro- takes milk to the creamery’. So he 8 first. The Empire History; Brodposed school at Flowerdale township. recommended removal of school rible - Manual of Health; Richard“D.I. Mr Gates reported on March and felt Green’s children wouldn’t sons Temperance lessons book;
12, 1892, to Department said 15 par- be disadvantaged by the removal of Hackwoods moral subjects. Parkers
ents desired removal, 15 parents ob- the school.
personal care of health; 3 books on
jected to, and one family of three
“People who offered to remove how to prevent drownings; Agricul(Gooch) it makes little difference ‘the School No 2404 free of charge were tural teacher; Manual of Needlecase for removal is put thus’.
M. Fitzgerald, S. Lade Jnr, S.T. work; Mensuration 2; Animal Psy“The petitioners are prepared to Lade, T. McConchie, G. Forbes, A. chology; Stewarts Physical Primer;
move the building free of cost ... all Forbes, John Robertson, Thomas 6 reading tablets; 2 sets of cards of
the petitioners are brought within Munro and Lewis Cohen.
the alphabet; 1 planisphere; Globe;
reach and the families of Richards,
“In September 1892, the head 13 table books; 23 copy books; Rolls
Pattison and Sheppard are distant teacher was asked to close the school and Register.
between two and three miles a immediately and supervise the re“Miss McDowell H.T. indicated
creamery has lately been established moval of furniture to the hall lately that she would reside in the residence
at the township and milk is brought used for school purposes until removal attached to the school but the new
from Kerrisdale direction.
teacher in 1894 didn’t occupy the
of No 2405 is completed.
“The families of Messrs. E. Green
“It was reported in the Broadford residence.
and Brace are but a little further dis- Courier (Sept. 30, 1892) that ‘quite
“By 1900 the school population
tant from No 1878 K.P.C.
an army of men are engaged in mov- had increased greatly, George
“On the other hand attendance of ing the school from Kerrisdale to Forbes wrote to the department re20 is not at all probable, all the fami- Strath. Miss McDowell has con- questing the enlargement of the
lies of the petitioners except Lade verted the Town Hall (Good Temp- school as 50 children were in a buildand Fitzgerald who have four miles lars Hall) into a school room for ing designed for 30, some children
to Kerrisdale would attend now with present. Those engaged feel it will were no attending due to overcrowdlittle inconvenience.
ing and the teacher was unable to
be erected in a fortnight’.
“The road from E.Greens to No.
“The temporary school began on have writing when all of them were
1878 is very bad in winterfrequently September 26, 1892. They stayed till in attendance.
flooded. The Board of Advice think October 5, 1892, when they moved
“A request for a verandah floor
the removal should take place but to the re-elected building. Rent was made in 1904 as it was very
with some hesitation I recommend charged to the Department by the dusty and muddy. From 1909 white
Lodge for the use of the building was ants ine the school were a problem,
nothing be done for the present.
finally in 1916 after many requests
“List of children to attend pro- 10/-.”
SCHOOL No 3173
and complaints something was done.
posed school at Flowerdale township:
FLOWERDALE TOWNSHIP
“The contractor for repairs reMargaret Fitzgerald, 12; Maria
“Conveyancing allowances were ported that boards were falling off,
Fitzgerald, 10; Michael Fitzgerald,
9; John Fitzgerald, 7; Mary Ann paid to parents whose children had very few sound boards were left in
the lining and he found that all studs
Fitzgerald, 6; Thomas Fitzgerald, 4; to travel long distances.
“Mr Green received 6d per day were affected and useless and also
Margaret Lade, 12; Mary Lade, 7;
Leslie Lade, 5; Florence E. Bassett, for each child but his claim couldn’t some rafters were damaged.
“Between June and September
5; Stewart Bassett, 4; John Forbes, be recognised as he was delivering
9; Archibald Forbes, 7; Annie them in a wagonette in the morning, 1917 the school was closed for four
Forbes, 4; Eva Caton, 4; Charlotte and they were walking home in the months while repairs were carried
Gooch, 12; Ellen Gooch, 7; Albert afternoon. They only recognised out, school was held in the local hall.
E. Gooch, 7; Walter Sheppard, 10; claims if the children were conveyed The Department offered the hall
committee 5/- per week rental but
William Richards, 5; George Rich- both ways.
“Unfortunately other than letters, this was refused a charge of 10/- was
ards, 4; Josephine Pattison, 12;
Charles Walter Bruce, 7; James there are limited records of the early finally agreed upon.
“In December the same year the
Bruce, 5; Ernest Dick, 12; and 12 days at the re-sited new school 3173.
more children within school radius Department letters, reports in the H.T. Miss Phelan reported that the
Broadford Courier and of a later date ants had re-appeared and destroyed
under four years of age.
“Others added to the list were: Pupil’s Register and District outside boards. A violent storm in
Francis Robertson, 13; William Inspector’s Reports; however they December 1918 ripped the verandah
Robertson, 13; Reginald Robertson, give us some interesting insights into completely off the school this was
7; Harry Robertson, 6; Frederick the development of Strath Creek partly caused by the white ant population.
Robertson, 5; John Jackson, 6; Wil- School.
BUILDINGS, FURNITURE
“New desks with backs arrived
liam Jackson, 4.
ANDEQUIPMENT
for the students who had previously
“Those attending 2405 in July 1892
“During June 1893 an inventory sat on forms during 1920. In 1926
were: Aruela Sheppard, 14; Walter
Sheppard, 10; Josephine Pattison, of school No 3173 was made. In the there were 19 desks in the school 2
13; Grace Mary Green, 13; Walter school there were 4 desks; 5 forms; size 7; 3 size 6; 3 size 5; 3 size 4;

■ Strath Creek has a rich heritage, painstakingly recorded by
Noreen Foster, a former teacher
at Strath Creek State School.
Noreen published Whispers
In The Valley, an 89-page local
history, in 1985.
This well-researched publication looks back on the area, dating back to 1838.
The history studies aspects
including squatters, selectors,
farms and families, farming,
mining, education, roads and
bridges, the township,
organisations and events, and
sport.
Noreen Foster also wrote the
publication, A Century of Education at Strath Creek.
The Local Paper has quoted
extensively from Noreen
Foster’s work for this special feature. We gratefully acknowledge
her valuable research.
3 size 3; 2 size 2; and 3 size 1. Problems continued with white ants, finally after the school council reported
in 1927 that the walls shook when
the wind blew the Department took
some significant action.
“A department memo showed
that repairs would cost £230, they
recommended that a new building
would cost about £480. P. Forbes
was the contractor who built the new
school for a cost of £492/8/7.
“The new building was first occupied by H.T. James Ellis and students on Monday, November 26,
1928.
“Tenders for the old building were
called for. Steve Baker’s tender of
£7/10 was the only one and was accepted. He removed the building and
lean-to store room ny March 1929 to
a stire on Falls Rd.
“The new school building was 20’
x 20’ and although bigger in size still
had its problems. With 29 children
attending it became stuffy on hot
days.
“The shire supported the parents
committees application in 1934 for
more ventilation but the department
felt that ‘as the building was of standard construction throughout the state
being 1 3’ x 8’ window and door on
the west side and 3 windows 8’ x 3’
with fixed middle sashes and lower
sash opening inwards on the east, and
ventilation had never been complained of, there was no justification
for any action’.
“The school committee erected
a new shelter pavilion in 1940. D.I.
Prictor noted that termites had attacked the bicycle shed in 1949.
“D.I. Watson lent his support for
the building of a teachers residence
in the school grounds in 1952.
“He felt there was enough room
and the present enrolment of 24
would likely be maintained.
“The Department recommended
that as it was not an urgent case and
not included in the 1949 survey for
those schools requiring residences
therefore consideration be deferred.
“White ants have continued to be
a problem, severe damage was repaired in 1977-78,” Mrs Foster
wrote. “The last structural changes
made to the school building were
made in 1978 when finally after numerous representations aqbout pupil
numbers in the available space were
made.
“The east wall was moved outwards, an extra 9 feet was added to
the building. White ant infestation
was treated yet again.”

● Sacha Joseph and Rajendra Moodley and
Dancers in The Perfume Garden.
■ After 10 years, Rajendra Moodley’s hit play The Perfume Garden is returning to Melbourne for a strictly limited season at Chapel off Chapel's main stage from August
2-13.
The show features nine dance numbers, presented as
opulent fantasies, with a dance cast of 15, in Bollywood
costumes from India. Choreographed by Jagritti Bhatia,
featuring dancers from Ignite Bollywood and the Victorian State Ballet Company. The production is directed by
Paul Watson with lighting design by Jason Bovaird.
Set in an outer suburban spice shop, The Perfume Garden explores some of multiculturalism’s absurdities. Chitra
and Satya want nothing more than to see their aging son
Anand settle down, get married and take over the family
business. His girlfriend Devi seems to be the perfect match:
also 30+, Devi has also been dodging a bullet most of her
adult life.
The play opens on their ‘proposal day’ (the first part of
an Indian wedding). However, Anand is reluctant to set a
date for the engagement, let alone the wedding. His parents
feel that time is running out: not just for Anand as a ‘catch’...
but also for them as they become older and suffer ill health.
They use Ayah as a metaphor for what lies ahead.
Anand is hapless. A writer/ actor, who clearly has been
unsuccessful in his career. He has moved back home. But
for his own ‘independence’, he has relocated to the granny
flat at the back of the shop. He lives his life in his head. His
only escape from the mundane life of selling spices, is to
fantasize about being in his own Bollywood movie.
He dabbles with perfumes. Believing the Indian exotic
oils his father used to sell, have both medicinal and magical
powers. He is forced into looking after an old lady named
Ayah. She is a distant relative (by marriage). Ayah is an 80year-old stroke victim. Through the magical perfumes,
Anand releases Ayah as a genie. She tries to unleash the
the aspects of him that have been supressed. Bringing the
fantasy into reality. Her job is to ‘bring a blessing’ to him.
She does this by making him see what is inside. Ayah unleashes havoc on the family: creating magical perfumes
that have unusual side effects!
The cast is made up of Indian (and Sri Lankan) actors.
Vishwajeet Pradhan, a well known Bollywood actor will
head the cast as Satya with Anshu Amol Adrekarportraying his wife Chitra. Rajendra Moodley plays their son
Anand and his love interest Devi is performed by Sacha
Joseph. The mystical Aya will be channelled by Khema de
Silva. The Perfume Garden has been considerably reworked and rewritten since it last appeared in Melbourne
in 2007. It is more topical and relevant to both the Indian
community, and all migrant communities. The themes of
identity and belonging, along with the themes of family, and
love, are even stronger than ever.
Performance dates: August 2 – 13 at 7.30pm: Tuesday –
Saturday; 2pm Matinee Saturday and 6.30pm Sunday
Venue: Chapel off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St., Prahran
Tickets: $59 Full, $49 Concession, $45 Saturday Matinee Performances, $39 Preview Performance August 2
Bookings: www.chapeloffchapel.com.au or 8290 7000.

The Association

● Paul Grabowsky
■ Paul Grabowsky , one of the most distinguished figures in
Australian music, will perform a special solo show at Hawthorn Arts Centre on Sunday (July 30)
The award-winning jazz luminary will draw from years of
repertoire, featuring original material as well as his arrangements of classic jazz and pop standards.
This year has seen Paul collaborate with such leading vocal
artists as Vince Jones and Kate Ceberano, as well as singersongwriter Lior.
This solo show, in the grand setting of the Main Hall, is
guaranteed to be a special experience, with Paul to introduce
the program as the night goes on.
Paul has lived in Europe and the US and performed with
some of jazz’s biggest names, including Chet Baker, Art Farmer
and Johnny Griffin.
He returned to Australia in 1986 and established a reputation
as one of Australia’s leading jazz musicians with bands including his own trio and sextet.
He formed the Wizards of Oz in 1987 with musicians Lloyd
Swanton and Tony Buck – now of the world-famous The Necks.
Not only a performer, Paul is a pianist, composer, arranger
and conductor. He has written the scores for more than 20 feature films and has worked with filmmakers including Gillian
Armstrong and Nadia Tass.
He has won four ARIA awards, two Helpmann awards, several Bell Awards and a Deadly Award. He was the Sidney Myer
Performing Artist of the Year in 2000, and received the
Melbourne Prize for Music in 2007.
In 2014, Paul was awarded the Order of Australia (AO) for
services to music.
Hawthorn Arts Centre presents an exciting and varied arts
program and is home to performance, exhibition, workshop and
events spaces.
Visitors can enjoy refreshments at the Events Bar or explore
Hawthorn and discover the area’s culinary delights.
Venue: Hawthorn Arts Centre, 360 Burwood Rd, Hawthorn
Date: Sunday, July 30. 7pm
Tickets: $39 / $33 concession
Bookings: www.boroondara.vic.gov.au/events/paulgrabowsky-0
- Cheryl Threadgold

■ A small number of people gathered at the rear of a
suburban single fronted house after being met at the front
gate and confirming our attendance for a meeting of their
Association.
All 12 of us waited patiently outside the back door as
Office Bearers prepared us for entry to the house for what
was being termed a secret women’s association meeting, a
select group of women proclaiming “Unity is Strength”
As an all female ensemble, Girls Act Good (GAG),
comprises of writers, directors, actors and designers with a
focus on giving creative opportunities for women to voice
their stories that often go unheard and unnoticed.
After assembling us, temporary members in the front
lounge room, script writer Perri Cummings as Nancy, started
the formal meeting with apologies, the swearing in of a
new member Kelley Kerr Young as Joanne and then general business that included fundraising report, an update on
the local Blood Bank shortage and the selection of the best
homemade jam.
All in keeping with the best traditions of the CWA well to
a point as the meeting developed a more sinister reflection
of marriage infidelity, submissive behaviours and disbelief
amongst the members of the Association.
A touch of the Stepford Wives syndrome. While claiming to draw upon Frankenstein the closest it got was with
Samuel Burton as Patient Zero, a husband of one of the
wives in another room hooked up with all manner of life
support. Why?
Was another story as the meeting went downhill from
here and came to a somewhat abrupt ending after some
terrifying moments of domestic violence.
Naming of the actors character earlier in the piece would
have helped and certainly not all the sequences could be
shared equally because of the locality restrictions as we
were moving from space to space as one does on a
children’s excursion. The theme was there but a lot more
tightening needed with less movement of the audience.
Performance details: Until July 30 at 7.30pm and 9.30pm
Venue: Number 64 (AnAssociation member’s home),
64 Pentland Parade, Yarraville
Tickets: $23/$28
Bookings: www.trybooking.com
- Review by Graeme McCoubrie

Nominated for AACTA
■ Australian short film Mrs McCutcheon by first-time
filmmaker and theatre veteran John Sheedy has been
nominated for anAFI/AACTA for best short fiction film
The short film, which aims to give a voice to the thousands of trans and gender diverse children, has received
acclaim at international film festivals including the 33rd
Hamburg International Short Film Festival and the 63rd
Oberhausen International Film Festival in Germany,
where it received a special mention in the International
Children’s Competition Award.
Mrs McCutcheon captures the conflicts of 10-year-old
Tom (Alec Golinger), who having always felt he was born
in the wrong body, chooses the name Mrs McCutcheon
rather than his birth name; he also prefers the flow of a
dress over the cut of a pant.
Now at his third schoolTom is once again having trouble
settling in and finding acceptance amongst his peers – except for Trevor (Wesley Patten), a tough little charmer
who himself experiences prejudice due to his Aboriginal
heritage.
With the school dance only days away Tom is thrust on
a journey of self-discovery and sacrifices to find his own
place in the world.
Mrs McCutcheon was directed and conceived by multiaward-winning theatre director John Sheedy in his first
foray into filmmaking and written by Ben Young, who last
year premiered his debut feature Hounds of Love at Venice
Film Festival to rave reviews.
Turn To Page 37

Page 36 - Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Observer
Showbiz
Country
Crossroads

By Rob Foenander
info@countrycrossroads.com.au

Lloyd on a roll
■ Berwick singer songwriter Lloyd Clarke
is on a mission to get his music heard far and
wide.
The easy listening balladeer has found his
niche in a country/folk genre that has already
seen his own compositions make it into the
country tracks charts.
Lloyd's songs include interpretations of
historical events.
His current single Threading the eye of a
needle is getting regular airplay amongst
Australian and international radio presenters.
More info http://facebook.com/Llwydod

Chris’s new show
■ Chris Newman will present his Roy
Orbison, Neil Diamond and Everly Brothers show on August 25 at the Mornington
RSL.
The singer guitarist and entertainer keeps
busy these days with the popular morning
melodies and club circuit around Victoria.
Chris is also a generous supporter of
fundraising events often volunteering his talents and music. Show bookings at
Mornington RSL: 5975 2106.

August at the Vale
■ Country Music for August at the Pascoe
Vale RSL
Friday August 4: The Guild Country Band
plus Guests. Friday August 11: Rene Diaz
and the Real Time. Friday August 18: Rough
Cut.
- Rob Foenander

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

News around Victoria

Muriel Cooper returns
■ Muriel Cooper is making her radio comeback - from Wednesday, August 9, with a weekly
show on the Mornington Peninsula community station RPP.
Muriel, who left 3AW in 1991 after a 20year radio broadcast that included a stint at ABC
774 (3LO), will present a two-hour show from
9am until 11am on Wednesdays.
Muriel became a psychologist after she left
radio, and ran The Talking Room at Hawthorn.
She and husband Russell made the move to
Mornington last year.

Libby joins ACE

■ Libby Price will join the ACE Network as
presenter of their rural program, Country Today
heard on 3CS, 3YB, 3HA, 3WM and 3SH in
September.
Libby has worked as the editor of the Benalla
Ensign newspaper in north east Victoria for the
past three years but is best known for her 30
years working for the ABC.
■ BRIEFLY: 3AW is looking to appoint a casual journalist ... Jo and Lehmo (Gold 104.3)
are looking to appoint an Executive Producer ...
Coles Radio is dominating digital radio ratings.

■ American actress
Vivian Vance, of I Love
Lucy, was born in 1909.
She died aged 70.
US actor Jason
Robards (he was a
former husband of
Lauren Bacall) was
born in 1922. He died
aged 78 in 2000.
Ex-Prime Minister
John Howard was born
in 1939 in NSW (78).

● Muriel Cooper

R LOCAL THEATRE

Vessel, at Arts Centre

■ Outer Urban Projects
present VESSEL from September 20 – 23 in the Arts Centre Rehearsal Room.
A journey from one side of
the world to another, through
generations, time and parallel
realities, VESSEL is a dance
theatre work about giving birth
and the circumstances you are
born into – it spans street, cultural and contemporary styles
with text and an original sound
score.
Outer Urban ProjectsArtistic Director and VESSEL director and composer, Irine
Vela, explains that when developing this new work, the 2001
SIEV X (Suspected Illegal
Entry Vessel X) tragedy came
to mind – it was a dilapidated
fishing vessel that sank carrying around 400 asylum seekers from Indonesia to Christmas Island.

r
Obser vbeiz
On This Day
Show

Wednesday Thursday
July 27
July 26

Mother’s Ruin

Radio

■ The late Ted Whitten,
VFL legend, was born in
1933. The Footscray
star died aged 62 in
1995.
US actor Jerry Van Dyke
was born in 1931 (86).
He is the brother of Dick.
American
singer
Maureen McGovern is 67.
She sang in the blockbuster movie, Posiedon
Adventure.

“The experience of the
families that boarded the SIEV
X was a stark contrast to the
way we perceive the modern
Australian family of 2.4 children. 353 people died in the
SIEV X strategy, including 146
children, 142 women and 65
men. Some of the survivor testimonies are chilling and surreal.
The words of one survivor
are echoed in VESSEL by Iranian actor Sahra Davoudi,” said
Vela.
“The womb is a vessel that
protects and nurtures an embryo to survive long enough to
be born into life. Asylum seekers board a vessel to bring their
families to safety and security.
When and how does a parent
let go of its child and the child
of its parent?” questions Vela.
VESSEL features an

■ Celebrating all things gin, Maeve Marsden
and Libby Wood, accompanied by Tom
Dickins, were intoxicating with their stunning
vocals and gin-ified lyrics in Mother’s Ruin:
A Cabaret About Gin.
It was a perfect fit for St Kilda’s Map 57
alcohol-themed Winter Garden festival.
It’s no wonder they have enjoyed sell-out
seasons at the Sydney Festival, Adelaide
Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, the Perth Fringe World Festival and
Hobart’s Festival of Voices.
Mother’s Ruin, a unique and sometimes
feverish cabaret, featured stories and songs
about gin facts and myths from the 1700s to
today.
Gin’s reputation as a ‘depressant’ and
cause of feminine madness is revealed as
nothing but sexist and repressive misinformation.
Well researched, this ode to gin includes
fascinating stories about the history of women
and alcohol - including the women who
chained themselves to a bar in a pub in
Adelaide because they were refused service,
the female bartender who lost her job because ‘American’ men didn’t like women
behind the bar, and the myth that the consumption of gin caused ‘female hysteria’.
Written by Marsden, Wood and The
Ginstress aka Elly Baxter, these gals know
their stuff and by all accounts have sampled
(swilled enthusiastically no doubt) every distilled variety across the globe - as their hilarious rewrite of I’ve Been Everywhere - I’ve
Drunk Every Gin - yeah! attests.
Directed by Anthea Williams, with musical direction by Jeremy Brennan, this spirited (literally) gusto production includes sensational duets and harmonies that showcase
Marsden and Wood’s incredible vocal
ranges. Dickins holds his end up with excellent accompaniment and solid vocals.
Highlights (there are many) include
Wood’s comic rendition of Fever and
Marsden’s powerful and soulful cri de coeur
by Martha Wainwright, complete with its explosive and potent title.
Mother’s Ruin is hilarious and fun-filled
with a biting commentary on women’s repression. I expect and hope we’ll see a lot
more of these two.
- Review by Beth Klein

Media People

■ Michael Smith has confirmed he is heading to Shanghai in January to be the AFR's
new China Correspondent. He will take over
from Lisa Murray andAngus Grigg after they
wind up their China stint late this year, reports Telum Australia.
■ Joseph Hinchliffe recently started as a
stringer for Reuters in Melbourne. Joseph was
previously a journalist at the BendigoAdvertiser.
■ Benita Kolovos has joined AAP
Melbourne. Benita had previously been a
Guest Liaison and Production Assistant at Sky
News in Melbourne.
- Telum Australia
Melbourne

Observer

Friday
July 28

Saturday
July 29

■ Children’s writer
Beatrix Potter was born
in London in 1866. She
died aged 77 in 1943.
Lt General Sir Peter
Cosgrove was born in
1947 (70).
Aboriginal artist
Albert Namatjira was
born in 1902. He died
aged 57 in 1959.
Actress
Sally
Struthers is 69.

■ Entertainment entrepreneur Kevin Jacobsen was born in 1934.
Comedian Col Elliott
was born in England in
1949 (68).
The late Wendy Hughes
was born in Melbourne in
1950
Comedian John Clarke
was born in NZ in 1948.
He died earlier this year
at age 68.

Sunday
July 30
■ Motoring legend
Henry Ford was born in
1863. He died aged 83
in 1947.
Austrian-born actor
Arnold Schwarenegger
was born in 1947 (68).
Model Karen Pini
was born in WA in
1957 (60).
US actress Lisa Kudrow (Friends) was born
in California in 1963.

Monday
July 31

■ American
singersongwriter Lobo (Roland
Kent La Voie) was born in
1943 (74).
Singer Russell Morris
was born in Richmond,
Melbourne in 1948 (69).
Ex-Victorian Premier
Ted Baillieu is 62.
Actor Ernie Dingo was
born in Western Australia
in 1956.

Tuesday
August 1
■ West Indies cricketer Sir Frank Worrell
was born in 1924. He
died aged 42 in 1967.
English song-writer
Lionel Bart (Begleiter)
was born in London inb
1930. He died aged 68
in 1999.
Socialite Lady Sonia
McMahon (Hopkins)
was born in 1932; died
aged 77 in 2010.

Thanks to GREG NEWMAN of Jocks Journal for assistance with birthday and anniversary dates.
Jocks Journal is Australia’s longest running radio industry
publication.
■ Melbourne
Find out more at www.jocksjournal.com

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

ShowBiz!

Melbourne Obser ver - Wednesday, July 26, 2017 - Page 37

Observer
Showbiz

Winter Glow

■ The winter darkness is illuminated during
the Glow Winter Arts Festival, across the
City of Stonnington, from twilight until afterdark, August 10-20.
Stonnington’s most iconic venues and
public spaces will light up with glowing neon
installations, architectural projections and
larger than life illuminations.
Now in its fourth year, the festival will
kick-off with a spectacular opening night unveiling new commissioned works for the Festival and works never before seen in Victoria.
See buildings transform before your eyes,
discover illuminous butterflies on light posts,
find glowing giant flowers and colossal mushrooms, journey through an enchanted village,
discover multi-coloured and oversized neon
glow letters in corners, parks and gardens
across Stonnington plus much more.
City of Stonnington Mayor, Cr Jami
Klisaris, said: “This is an opportunity to discover our City in new ways. From our bustling streets of Chapel and Greville Streets to
our magnificent gardens and heritage buildings remade with illuminations. Wander and
discover the magical whimsy of these beautiful pieces.”
Award-winning Melbourne-based, lighting and visual design firm, Mandylights, will
transform Central Park with Alice’s Garden.
Enormous flowers will bloom in fading, flickering rainbows, larger than life mushrooms
will loom and little sprouts, not yet grown,
will cover the landscape with trills of colour
running between them.
Dislocate will perform If These Walls
Could Talk…?, an intricate mesh of slapstick
theatre, astonishing circus skills and powerful story-telling.
Projection artists NickAzidis and Rose Staff
are set to work their magic, transforming historic buildings into a whimsical wonderland
of light projections with Wonderlight.
Emerging opera company BK Opera strip
away the usual pomp and circumstance of
this timeless art form to reveal the raw emotion at the heart of their performance Guerilla Opera.
The Centre (for) Projection Art travels
south to light up the nooks and crannies of
Greville St while Sowinski/Cullen and Associates’ Untitled will challenge traditional notions of light, allowing us to re-think how we
interact with objects in public and private
spaces.
James Voller’s Enchanted will spring you
into a new imaginative world where you can
interact with familiar places under a new light
and Carla O’Brien’s work, Neon Glow, will
see giant ‘glow’ letters finding homes around
Stonnington.
Advice From a Butterfly by Skunk Control sees a kaleidoscope of butterflies making the light posts of Stonnington their pulpit,
whispering advice to passers-by.
Glow WinterArts Festival, August 10-20.
Full program details and to book
www.glowfestival.com.au
- Cheryl Threadgold

TV, Radio, Theatre
Latest Melbourne show business news - without fear or favour

Make ‘Em Laugh

● Mikey Halcrow is in Make ‘Em Laugh – the Untold Donald O’Connor Story.
■ Mikey Halcrow’s self-written cabaret Make including songs by Irving Berlin and George
‘Em Laugh – the Untold Donald O’Connor Story Gershwin and original arrangements by Radda
is being presented at the Butterfly Club from and Halcrow.
August 23 – 27.
Both Halcrow and Radda are recent graduThis new cabaret showcases Donald ates from WAAPA’s Music Theatre degree and
O’Connor’s life on the silver screen, starring have each had successful seasons at Perth
alongside icons such as Gene Kelly, Debbie Fringeworld. Halcrow’s respect for Donald
Reynolds and Ethel Mermen.
O’Connor and his career, lead him to do extenThe show has songs from the golden age of sive research on the under-appreciated star and
film, and tells an unknown history of under- create the cabaret in his memory.
recognised, Golden Globe winning actor
Starring Mikey Halcrow and Jens Radda and
O’Connor.
directed by Nick Eynaud. Bookings recomLoosely based around his life story, this caba- mended.
ret and featuring Mikey Halcrow and Jens
Dates: August 23 - 27
Radda, the show uses numbers from O’Connor’s
Time: 7pm
films to tell his life story.
Cost: $25-32
Featuring elements of vaudeville and music
Venue: The Butterfly Club, 5 Carson Place,
theatre, this 50 minute cabaret is filled with hits Melbourne
spanning 60 years of Hollywood and Broadway,
Tickets: thebutterflyclub.com

Nominated for AACTA
● From Page 35
■ The short film also stars film and TV veterans Nadine Garner, Virginia Gay, Neil
Pigot and Shareena Clanton.
Mrs McCutcheon is produced by Andre
Lima and Jenny Vila, with cinematography
by acclaimed DOP Sky Davies and music
score by multi-award winning composer Iain
Grandage.
John Sheedy is a multi-award winning
Australian director whose work has been
staged extensively throughout Australia.
In 1998, John completed his Bachelor of
DramaticArt at the National Drama School
in Melbourne before completing his Masters
of FineArts (Directing) at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in 2002.
In August 2010 John became the Artistic
Director at Barking Gecko Theatre Company, delivering his final season for the company in 2015.
Throughout his career, John has directed
productions for Belvoir Street, Bell
Shakespeare, Parramatta Riverside, Black
Swan State Theatre Company, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin and Opera Australia.
John’s work has been recognised with
multiple nominations for Helpmann and
Sydney Theatre Awards.
He is currently the CEO and Artistic Director of Theatre Works, a hub for independent theatre in the heart of St Kilda.
- Cheryl Threadgold

Djuki Mala

■ If you haven’t been to Map 57 – St Kilda’s
Winter Garden, go. Until July 30. This unique
venue hosts an experience and is ‘home’ to
the amazing YouTube famous Djuki Mala.
This Australian indigenous dance group
are warm, funny and fit. They are on their
feet for an hour with brief interludes of story
telling.
I laughed, cried, tapped my foot, cheered,
smiled , watched in awe not expecting what
I saw and heard. I learnt lots, though laughed
more.
My companion- who is about to buy tickets for all her family and friends, said ‘the
show breaks down cultural beliefs.’ This is a
very multi-cultural show.
The Box theatre is not ideal, so best to be
early, sit near the front as with no tiered seating and a ‘lowish’ stage some audience members were standing at the back to see.
It is also bright near the back and annoyingly some people were getting up to use the
bar. The sound system also lacked clarity. A
more intimate space, perhaps cabaret style
would be amazing.
Nonetheless the show itself is brilliant. The
dancers are talented performers, actors with
charisma. The show entertaining and poignant, suitable for any age.
A standing ovation along with demands
for an encore were I believe warranted. Unfortunately one hour does not seem long
enough.
I will say no more, be surprised for yourself. - Review by Elizabeth Semmel

FILM:
KONG - SKULL ISLAND:
Genre:
Action/Adventure/Fantasy.
Cast:
Tom Hiddleston, Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson,
John C. Reilly, John Goodman.
Year:
2017.
Rating:
M.
Length:
120 Minutes.
Stars:
****
Verdict: Set in the early 1970's of the Nixon era and the height of
the Vietnam conflict, a secretive team of explorers and soldiers
travel to a mysterious uncharted island in the Pacific, unaware that
they are crossing into the domain of a myriad of creatures, including the mythic and legendary King Kong. Big budget B-grade creature-feature yarn is a thrilling "Jurassic Park" meets "The Lost World"
(1925-1960) meets "The Land Time Forgot" meets "Apocalypse Now"
adventure-thrill ride filled with wildly over-the -top action and throwaway humour! Breathtaking filming locations include Queensland,
Vietnam and Hawaii with top notch production values and startling
CGI effects, and the outstanding cast including Tom Hiddleston,
Brie Larson, Samuel L. Jackson, the scene-stealing John C. Reilly
and John Goodman are all in top form.
Forget the pot-holes or logic, this creature-feature, along
with few others, is well and truly a worthy addition to a formula
that startled audiences as far back as 1925 with "The Lost World."
Killer '70s soundtrack includes David Bowie, The Hollies, Jefferson
Airplane, Black Sabbath and Creedence Clearwater Revival ... and
lined with plenty of "Easter Eggs" for film buffs and fans of the genre!
And watch right through the end credits.
FILM: LIFE:
Genre: Science Fiction Adventure-Horror-Thriller.
Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal, Rebecca Ferguson and Ryan Reynolds.
Year:
2017.
Rating: MA15+
Length: 104 Minutes.
Stars: ***1/2.
Verdict: Six astronauts aboard the space station study a sample
collected from a Mars probe that could provide evidence for extraterrestrial life on the Red Planet, but as the crew begin to conduct
research, a life form emerges that could prove more intelligent
than anyone ever expected. A crackling sci-fi, adventure, horror,
thriller that pays homage to its origins with nail-biting thrills and
chills thanks to a smart and lean screenplay, taut direction, claustrophobic setting, solid performances from a top notch cast and a
creature that is sure to raise the hairs on the back of your neck.
Clearly inspired by such greats as "IT! The Terror From Beyond Space"
(1958), "Event Horizon" (1997), "Gravity" (2013), and most of all,
Ridley Scot's ground-breaking "Alien" (1979) ... with a touch of "The
Twilight Zone" for good measure. This knows exactly what it is doing, where this has been before and exactly where you it's going,
and you would be doing yourself an injustice if you didn't take the
journey.
FILM:
DUNKIRK:
Genre:
Drama/History/War.
Cast:
John Mills, Richard Attenborough, Bernard Lee.
Year:
1958.
Rating:
PG.
Length:
134 Minutes.
Stars:
****
Verdict: Top notch dramatization of the British Force's 1940 retreat to the beaches of France and the extraordinary home rescue
seaborne evacuation by British civilians that saved it from utter
destruction by Nazi Germany. Exciting and unforgettable recreation
of one of history's most defining and heroic moments. Outstanding
cast of British veterans all excel, along with taut and respectful
direction by Leslie Norman (The Night My Number Came Up) and
intelligent screenplay by David Divine and W.P Lipscom. Ranks along
with such British WWII classics as "Reach For The Sky," "The Dam
Busters," "Sink The Bismarck," "In Which We Serve" and "The Cruel
Sea," to name a few. Thrilling and poignant all the way, and a wonderful tribute to those heroic civilian boat owners who helped save
a nation and change the course of the war!

www.MelbourneObserver.com.au

Movies, DVDs
With Jim Sherlock and Aaron Rourke

Rourke’s Reviews:
Okja, To The Bone

Top 10 Lists
JULY 23 to JULY 29.
THE AUSTRALIAN BOX OFFICE TOP TEN:
1. SPIDER-MAN: HOMECOMING.
2. BABY DRIVER.
3. DESPICABLE ME 3.
4. CARS 3.
5. WONDER WOMAN.
6. DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: THE LONG
HAUL.
7. TRANSFORMERS: THE LAST KNIGHT.
8. THE BEGUILED.
9. THE HOUSE.
10. MY COUSIN RACHEL.
NEW RELEASES AND COMING SOON TO
CINEMAS AROUND AUSTRALIA:
JULY 20: DESCENT INTO THE MAELSTROM:
RADIO BIRDMAN, DUNKIRK,
PARIS CAN WAIT, WISH UPON.
JULY 27 A GHOST STORY, A MONSTER
CALLS, KIKI, LOVE TO LOVE,
WAR FOR THE PLANET OF THE APES.

● Paul Dano and Steven Yeun help a very unusual friend in
the unique Okja, now streaming on Netflix.
■ Okja (M). 120 minutes. Now ror, and adventure, and backs it up
with a first-class production.
streaming on Netflix.
The cast are terrific, with
After suffering at the hands of
notorious U.S. producer Harvey Swinton, Ahn, and especially Dano
Weinstein with his previous film particular standouts.
Okja herself is an impressive
Snowpiercer, which was cruelly
held back from release for nearly creation, and the special effects
two years while the two locked bringing her to life are outstanding.
Okja is great entertainment, but
horns over what should be final cut,
director Bong Joon-ho’s follow-up it is that rare beast that offers viewfeature arrives with no such ers something to think about
amongst all the excitement,
trouble.
A Netflix production, Okja humour, and drama.
RATING - ****
proves to be the exact opposite,
available quickly to everyone via
To The Bone (MA). 107 minutes.
the popular streaming format.
The story centres around young Now streaming on Netflix.
Though not as confrontational or
teenager Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun),
who along with her grandfather hard-hitting as it could have been,
Hee-bong (Byun Hee-bong), live a To The Bone is generally free of
simple life on a farm located in the cheap melodramatics and a TV
scenic mountains of South Korea. movie-of-the-week approach.
The film introduces us to Ellen
Amongst the usual chickens is
a very unusual creature, a massive (Lily Collins), a young woman who
has been suffering from anorexia
super-pig named Okja.
Sent there by the Mirando Cor- nervosa for a number of years now.
poration, Okja is one of 26, sent to Recently kicked out from a rehavarious destinations around the bilitation centre, the latest in a long
world as part of a competition to line of medical institutions who have
raise the biggest and best super-pig, tried to help her, Ellen is accepted
and if selected, will represent the into another, run by radical doctor
company’s latest line of tasty meat William Beckham (Keanu
Reeves).
products.
Here the combative newbie is
When the intelligent creature is
selected the winner by wacky TV introduced to her latest group of felpresenter ‘Dr’ Johnny Wilcox (Jake low patients, which include Brit
Gyllenhaal), she is unceremoni- Luke (Alex Sharp), Megan (Leslie
ously trucked to Seoul headquar- Bibb), Anna (Kathryn Prescott), and
ters, but as such attracts the atten- Pearl (Maya Eshet), all of whom
tion of an animal rights group headed suffer from the same disorder to
by Jay (Paul Dano), who want to varying degrees.
During her stay, living under
free Okja from her corporate capsome unconventional rules, Ellen
tors.
Unimpressed with all this nega- will have the face her own fears
tive attention is company CEO and addiction, while also slowly
Lucy Mirando (Tilda Swinton), opening up to those around her, who
who is slowly watching the perfect all want to conquer this crippling
affliction.
marketing strategy slip away.
Writer/director Marti Noxon
In the middle of all this is Mija,
who wants her best friend back and (who penned I Am Number Four
and the 2011 Fright Night remake)
returned safely home.
Bong (Memories Of Murder / thankfully underplays proceedings,
Mother / The Host) combines a and doesn’t unnecessarily exploit
number of different genres to tell the physical appearance of her
his story, and confidently moves characters for cheap shock value.
from comedy, drama, satire, hor- A former anorexia sufferer .

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